Alligator Blood

Alligator Blood - one of Australia's headline horses - has returned an irregularity to a prohibited substance after the preliminary analysis of a sample taken after one of his biggest wins.

The prohibited substance was altrenogest which has in the past been commonly used to control the reproductive cycle of mares but it is banned in colts and geldings.

However in Victoria and Queensland, trainers have been warned off even using altrenogest on fillies and mares because it contains detectable levels of both trendione and trenbolone (a banned steroid).

While the substance is known a hormone treatment, it can be used to calm an unruly male horse.

Gelding Alligator Blood allegedly returned the irregular test after one of the biggest wins of his career, in the $2m Gold Coast Magic Millions Guineas in January.

It was the day where Alligator Blood was on a float for four hours on the way to the Gold Coast after being one of several horses stuck on Queensland's M1 motorway after a fuel tanker rollover.

Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett told Racenet that, regardless about the debate of the use of altrenogest on fillies and mares, the use of the substance on colts and geldings had always been banned.

A statement released by QRIC read:  

"Sunshine Coast Trainer David Vandyke has today been informed that after preliminary analysis, a post-race sample taken from thoroughbred gelding Alligator Blood after it won the Magic Millions Three Year Old Guineas at the Gold Coast on 11 January 2020, has shown an irregularity to the prohibited substance altrenogest.

"Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) Stewards informed Mr Vandyke that the sample has been sent for confirmatory testing at an interstate laboratory."

Racenet contacted Vandyke for comment on the matter and he sent through a pre-prepared statement which read: "I was informed today that Alligator Blood has returned an irregularity to altrenogest after his win on 11 January at the Gold Coast," Vandyke said.

"There is a B sample under review.

"Altrenogest is a drug that has never been used to my knowledge on Alligator Blood or any male horse in our stable.

"It is used in our stable under the brand name Ovumate and is given to some female horses under our care with accurate records kep surrounding administration.

"Those records have been given to QRIC.

"We are in the process of reviewing our security and stable management.

"There will be no further comment as we await the result of the B sample."

Alligator Blood has won 10 from 12 races with his only defeats being a narrow runner-up finish in last year's Group I Caulfield Guineas and when finishing 10th as the $2.80 favourite in the All-Star Mile last Saturday.

Earlier this autumn, he won his first Melbourne race in an epic battle against Kiwi Catalyst down the straight in the CS Hayes Stakes before claiming his first Group I win in the Australian Guineas.

Vandyke and owner Allan Endresz have taken the public along for the ride with their horse - doing countless media promotions and interviews in the lead-up to the All-Star Mile.

Endresz, whose wife Joy is dying of cancer, had threatened to scratch Alligator Blood from the All-Star Mile last Friday when officials enforced a fan and owner lockout at Caulfield due to coronavirus concerns.

But the Melbourne Racing Club organised a nearby function room for the Alligator Blood team to watch the All-Star Mile and the threat to scratch the star galloper was withdrawn.

Alligator Blood is now spelling with connections planning to target a rich payday in the Sydney spring in the $15m The Everest and the $7.5m Golden Eagle.

A QRIC spokesperson said officials had arrived at Vandyke's Sunshine Coast stable on Wednesday to inform him of the prohibited substance irregularity but that was a routine practice in such circumstances.