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By Ray Hickson

Multiple Group 1 winner Alligator Blood has been thrown a challenge in Saturday’s $4m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick but it’s one that co-trainer Adrian Bott says is not beyond him.

Trainer Adrian Bott (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The six-year-old has won four of his five Group 1s since he joined the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable and if he’s to make it six in the famous Randwick mile he’ll have to do it with top weight of 57.5kg.

Since Sunline carried 58kg to victory in 2002 only two horses have carried 57kg or more with success and they were More Joyous (57.5kg) in 2012 and Happy Clapper (57kg) in 2018.

“He’s got a challenge carrying that weight but he’s probably the type of horse that can handle it,’’ Bott said.

“His first-up run this preparation was one of the best weight-for-age performances we’ve had with him. It’ll be another challenge for him but he’s ready for it.

“He’s been very straightforward to train, he’s very tough and very talented.”

Waterhouse’s Doncaster tally sits on seven, More Joyous the latest of those.

Alligator Blood followed his first-up win in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) with a close up fourth in the All Star Mile and Bott said while he wasn’t disgraced he suspects the circuit might not be the horse’s favourite place.

“Looking back at his couple of runs at Moonee Valley I don’t know whether that’s his best track or not,’’ Bott said.

“I thought he ran well in a high pressure race. Obviously he wasn’t good enough on the day but he can well and truly bounce back.”

Bott is confident the stable has Converge back on track after last year’s Randwick Guineas winner produced his best effort in 12 months with a placing behind Anamoe in the Group 1 George Ryder (1500m) two weeks ago.

He started an $8.50 chance in last year’s Doncaster and beat two home and he’s considered Waterhouse and Bott’s best chance at $9 with TAB on Wednesday.

Tim Clark has been on board Converge in both runs this autumn but he rides Alligator Blood so Brett Prebble has the job on the four-year-old.

“I was really encouraged by his first-up run in the Canterbury Stakes and to go and put two runs together at weight-for-age level was pleasing,’’ he said.

“The run in the George Ryder was more at his ideal distance and I thought he ran a really good race. We probably had to ride him a little outside his pattern and rode the conditions of the race and the day.

“He wasn’t beaten far and he showed all the characteristics we saw from him when he was racing at his best.

“I think we’ve got him where we want him and he’s going into this race better than he was 12 months ago.”

Major Beel backs up from his second placing in the Tulloch Stakes and Bott said he’ll head into the Group 1 $2m ATC Australian Derby (2400m) at peak fitness.

ALLIGATOR BLOOD does it again! 🐊

He's an absolute SUPERSTAR.@GaiWaterhouse1 pic.twitter.com/wRilW42Ml9

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) February 25, 2023

It’s one race that has so far eluded Gai Waterhouse and Bott expects the gelding to be strong at the staying trip.

“He seems to have come out of the run in good shape,’’ he said.

“I thought it was a great effort, he raced on speed and brought the rest of the field up and was still there late.

“Even when challenged he rallied again and found again late. Going up to the Derby trip he’s going to be strong.”

All the fields, form and replays for Day 1 of The Star Championships at Randwick