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The gregarious man on the phone did not sound like he had been battling the government for over two decades. Neither did he sound like a man whose wife was battling terminal cancer. Alligator Blood’s co-owner Allan Endresz was joyous about having his Sinatra-loving 'Al' in The Everest and jubilatory spirit was catchy. The proud owner whose daughter is about to be married soon, chatted with Everest Diaries about his horse Alligator Blood and all great things racing:
Q: What races you are targeting leading up to Everest and is there a game plan for each race laid in advance?
A: Alligator Blood (Al) will have a couple of trials at Sunshine Coast QLD in late August followed by his first race on 12 September 2020 at Sunshine Coast in 1,100m open class. If the weights are too great at Sunshine Coast, Al will be sent straight to Sydney for a 1,100m open class race. Al is then set for the Everest on 17 October 2020 (1,200m) and Golden Eagle on 31 October 2020 (1,500m) in Sydney. This is a specifically targeted spring campaign with training based on Al simply enjoying his racing without any undue pressures. Unlike his previous campaigns, Al will be far more mature and stronger with fewer races scheduled and good breaks in between to ensure he remains fresh. Lot’s of water walker/treadmill programs and off-track low-level general riding. Al loves stable life and being around his stable buddies like Wolf Moon (Wandji) and Crypto Tycoon (Simmo).
Q: And what are your plans for the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021? Are any international races on the cards?
After the Golden Eagle on 31 October 2020, Al will be sent back out to spell for a couple of months. He will then be targeted for an Autumn campaign. Subject to COVID restrictions, racing in Melbourne is an option with the All-Star Mile or a campaign in Sydney with the Group 1 races over 1600-2000m. International races are an option, and we are certainly open to discussions.
Q: What’s on your bucket list of races for Alligator Blood to win over the next few years?
A: Group 1 races including CF Orr Stakes, Futurity Stakes, Australian Cup, Memsie Stakes, Makybe Diva Stakes, Turnball Stakes, WS Cox Plate, Emirates Stakes, George Ryder Stakes, Doncaster Handicap, Chipping Norton Stakes, ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes, All Aged Stakes, Winx Stakes, Epsom Handicap, Stradbroke Handicap.
Q: As we’ve discussed it could you please tell us more about his virtual profile and his social media success.
A: Al is Australia's most popular horse. This was proven with the record-breaking votes he received in the All-Star Mile. 18,501 people voted for Al. He has a social media supporter base of over 144,000 fans. Due to the global economic, social, and COVID 19 meltdown, Al the horse (and in the name) is resonating as a beacon of hope in these current times of despair and isolation. His name, “Alligator Blood” is a term used in poker which means someone who is tenacious, resilient, and never ever gives up. People suffering from financial hardship, mental despair, and terminal illnesses are now looking to Al as a reason to keep fighting. Throughout history, horses have appeared out of nowhere to lift the human spirit above and beyond the negative forces of the day. In 1877 there was a great Kincsem. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, there was Man O’War, Sir Barton, Seabiscuit, and Phar Lap. In later years, there were inspirational horses like Secretariat, Citation, Seattle Slew, Frankel, Black Caviar, Tulloch, Winx, Kingston Town, the list goes on. Al delivers a very subtle message to his followers. It is not whether you win or lose, it’s whether you can keep fighting. Al loves the Frank Sinatra song, “Fly Me to the moon”, and has the personality and quirky character to inspire all those around him with his “die once but live every second” attitude.
Q: What kind of horse is he? And how would you describe him at the track?
A: He is a big kid with ADT. He thinks training is a total waste of his time. He believes he is the king of the castle around other horses and that they should bow down to him. He is a true professional on race day and eager to get the job down. He thinks he is the boss on race day and a born leader of the herd. No one in the herd should be better than him. Al loves the adulation and applause from the crowd, and in particular, follows every camera to give his best pose with head held high. After his Australian Guineas Group 1 victory, the Flemington race track played his favorite song, “Fly Me to the moon” over the PA system. Al glided back to the winners' enclosure as if he was doing a victory dance to his favorite song. It was an incredibly emotional victory to hear his fans singing his song while he moved in sync to the music.
Q: What according to you, was his best performance thus far, and why?
A: In terms of Group races, there is no doubt that Al’s victories in the CS Hayes Stakes (G3) 15.03.2020 and Australian Guineas (G1) 29.02.2020 are at the top. The CS Hayes Stakes will be forever immortalized as one of the great two-horse races where Al (QLD) and Catalyst (NZ) fought it out to the very end. The race is very reminiscent of the great battles between Bonecrusher vs Our Waverly Star or Redoute’s Choice vs Testa Rossa. In terms of Al showing his true Alligator Blood spirit and powerful determination to win, my personal favorites are his maiden race at the Sunshine Coast on 30.12. 2018 and Magic Millions $2m 3Yr old 11.01.2020. In the maiden, Al came from 8-10 lengths last to burst home and win on the line. He looked gone for all money but never gave up. On Magic Millions day, he overcame a delay caused by a crash on the highway, endured over 3 hours of heat exhaustion, unable to drink on arrival at the track, and refocused even after other horses caused further delays when breaking the barriers early and losing a shoe.
Q: Which sales do you frequent when you are buying a horse at the sales? Do you have a bloodstock agent/ mentor helping you through your choices?
A: The Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate comprises me, my Uncle Jeff Simpson and Aunty Robyn Simpson. I am the senior managing partner with a 60% interest. We enjoy going to Inglis and Magic Millions' sales. We have no bloodstock agents and prefer to select our yearlings ourselves. Our criteria for selection are:
Q: Which is your favorite horse of all time? And why?
A: I have a couple. In the USA it is either Man O’War or Secretariat. Just sensational animals with incredible wills to win. In Australia, it is Better to Loosen Up. A local horse owned by locals in my home town of Albury. He achieved the highest accolades against superstars of his generation and remains the only Australian horse to this day to win the Japan Cup. In Hungary (my father's place of birth), there is Kincsem. The greatest horse in history with the most successive unbeaten runs of 54 in a row.
Q: Why the name Alligator Blood?
A: As described above, Al's name means someone who is tenacious, resilient, and never gives. His name resonates in my business life after fighting the Australian government for over 21 years (See: http://davis-samuel.blogspot.com/2014/10/allan-endresz-v-commonwealth-litigation.html), rebuilding our businesses, strengthening family and close friends relationships during hard times and, even more importantly, supporting my wife, Joy. She has terminal cancer with not many months to live. Al has become a tower of strength to keep going and enjoy every moment of his racing. It's never been about the money (we declined an offer of $3.2 million). Al is about the love and joy we (and his fans) get from our song loving big pet.
Q: How long have you been involved in horses?
A: I was first introduced to horse racing in 1983 when I had a small interest in a racehorse called “Canada Kid”. He was a lovely horse but he decided that he only liked to be an eventer. Over the years I have dabbled in syndicates (with some successes) before my Uncle, Aunty and I decided to form the Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate on the 3 January 2007. We have had many winners over that time and now have a portfolio of 22 racehorses. We have high expectations that Al will be joined at Group One-winning level with his stable buddies, Wandji, and Simmo. This time next year we may also be talking about our latest crop of yearlings sired from Shalaa, Capitalist, All Too Hard, and American Pharoah. They are given plenty of time to mature with x-rays regularly taken every two months to provide them with the best opportunity. They all love music and seem to listen to Al about how to train hard and behave on the track. To be professional while enjoying what a horse does best…..to run.