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Gai Waterhouse says Alligator Blood is primed for his assault on the All-Star Mile.
Alligator Blood will feel right at home when he heads onto the track for the All-Star Mile on Saturday.
While the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper has raced at Moonee Valley only once previously, the gelding has done a lot of his work at the track this preparation.
Alligator Blood was floated from his Flemington base to Moonee Valley on a number of occasions prior to his first-up in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Sandown on February 25.
Waterhouse and Bott took advantage of giving Alligator Blood another look at the track on Tuesday while it also gave Blake Shinn the chance of partnering the gelding again following the Futurity win.
"He loves coming to Moonee Valley and he knows he's The King," Waterhouse said of Alligator Blood.
"We're very lucky to get use of the course proper at Moonee Valley.
"It's a real treat."
Alligator Blood has won four Group 1 races since joining the Waterhouse and Bott stable after starting his career with David Vandyke on the Sunshine Coast before transferring to Billy Healey.
At his only appearance at Moonee Valley, Alligator Blood finished fifth in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) last October before winning the Group 1 Champions Mile at Flemington two weeks later.
Waterhouse said she is constantly learning about Alligator Blood.
"I didn't know much about him before he came to us," Waterhouse said.
"I knew of him when he won for David, but I didn't know a lot about him. It's been a learning curve and he's never let us down."
Shinn and Waterhouse were once a successful combination when the jockey shifted north at the conclusion of his apprenticeship.
Waterhouse said Shinn likened Alligator Blood to an old warhorse of hers Desert War while Waterhouse herself said the gelding reminded her of Juggler, a multiple Group 1 winner.
"I thought he looks and acts like and races like Juggler," Waterhouse said.
"Juggler was very tough. He would come out and beat his chest and say, 'I'm the man, here I am'.
"They do get beaten, but they certainly give their rivals a run for their money and this horse, he's very straight forward.
"He gets on with the job. There's no mucking around with him."
Waterhouse said she would not feel any pressure saddling the $2.70 favourite for the $5 million race who will be one of the leaders.
"He likes to race on the speed. He's shown he can win Group races, racing like that," Waterhouse said.
"He's used to pressure, I'm used to pressure. I don't see it as a problem."