Alligator Blood is the horse made for headlines but its journey was crafted by the couple who are keen to stay away from them.

Rarely has racing ownership seen more contrasting themes than the high-profile, often quoted, colourful and controversial owner Allan Endresz and the unassuming former milk bar owners who have been in the ownership of Alligator Blood from day dot.

Jeff and Robyn Simpson have been blissfully silent during one of racing's most turbulent careers.

But now, the Queensland couple break their silence about the extraordinary Alligator Blood journey.

Jeff Simpson picked out Alligator Blood – almost by accident – in the 2018 Magic Millions Sales when Endresz, his nephew, was trying to buy a horse in an adjacent box.

Behind the mega headlines of Alligator Blood, the horse banned because of Endresz's status as an undischarged bankrupt but then reinstated after he sold his share to Gerry Harvey, is the story of Jeff and Robyn Simpson.

As much as it is a horseracing story, it is also a great love story.

The couple, now in their 70s, first locked eyes on each other when they both worked at a Coles supermarket more than 50 years ago.

"I met Robyn when we worked together at Coles … I was the grocery boy and she was the deli chick," Jeff Simpson tells News Corp.

"That was 53 years ago.

"We have since owned takeaway shops, sandwich bars in factory areas, milk bars and delicatessens.

"Allan Endresz is my nephew, my sister's son.

"We have been close all our lives with him and I was the one who introduced him into horses as a young bloke.

"Allan is family and we love him and we have been involved with him for a lot of years.

"But we have certainly shaken our heads at a lot of things he has said and done – even from when he was a little tacker at school.

"To be honest, we are happy that he talks (in public) and we don't.

"We don't need the limelight.

"We have been sitting back and watching everything play out in the media."

Before the Ezybonds No.1 syndicate (of Endresz and the Simpsons) was established, Endresz owned horses in syndication with Brad Spicer.

But Endresz and the Simpsons decided to form their own ownership team.

As two-time Group 1 winner Alligator Blood tries to make it three wins at racing's top level in Saturday's Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington, Simpson has revealed a unique thread of the story.

Without Simpson, there would be no Alligator Blood.

"At the 2018 Magic Millions Sales, we had our eye on one horse out of Better Than Ready and I said to Allan we should do a deal with Gerry (Harvey) to buy that particular horse," Simpson said.

"But while Allan was talking to Gerry, in the box next door was Alligator Blood.

"I went into the box and looked at him.

"He did have a couple of problems but they weren't major problems.

"He had a little knee issue and a curved hock which wasn't severe.

"But there was nothing that I thought with time that wouldn't fix up.

"I told Allan that he had better buy Alligator Blood who had been passed in.

"Allan offered Gerry $50,000 but Gerry wouldn't take it because he wanted $55,000 with the GST.

"I told Allan to go back and pay Gerry because I thought that was cheap."

Jeff Simpson, 74, is a licensed stablehand who loves nothing more than helping out at the stables of some of the horses he part owns.

He has ridden the rollercoaster ride of every exhilarating moment and devastating setback of the Alligator Blood journey, which has included a big race disqualification and the horse having major ‘kissing spine' surgery from which he had a miracle comeback.

At the nub of Simpson's racing interests is the love of the horse – and of racing.

"I'm basically a keen punter and a racing fan, I've been involved with horses on and off for many years," Simpson said.

"We pick the horses we buy ourselves, we don't go through an agent.

"I'm a licensed stablehand and I like to help out in the stables in whatever way I can.

"Both Robyn and I are very much into knowing what our horses are up to and if they are happy and healthy."

Alligator Blood, who now races in Harvey's famous blue and white silks, will take centre stage at Flemington on Saturday with his Stradbroke Handicap winning jockey Tim Clark back on board.

Everyone has their opinions of Endresz, the flamboyant racing identity who is no longer in the Alligator Blood ownership.

Jeff Simpson certainly doesn't see eye-to-eye with his nephew on everything.

But he believes racing owes Endresz a debt of thanks for agreeing to sell his share of Alligator Blood so the headline horse could race again.

"When Alligator Blood was first banned, Robyn and I were absolutely devastated," Simpson said.

"But all honours must go to Allan for him to come to that decision (to sell his share) considering how long we have been involved with the horse and the journey that we have been on with him.

"In selling his share, Allan was thinking more of the horse and the racing fans than himself.

"Alligator Blood is also not a horse you could just go and stick in a paddock somewhere because he wouldn't be happy."

The Simpsons have rarely missed being on track to see Alligator Blood race and will be there at Flemington on Saturday.

Alligator Blood was a $6 chance in the Makybe Diva after acceptances on Wednesday but quickly firmed into $4.80 with TAB.