COLOURFUL owner Allan Endresz has scrapped plans to target The Everest with his boom galloper Alligator Blood when he heads to Sydney next month.
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Trainer David Vandyke will instead focus solely on The Silver and Golden Eagle over the lucrative spring carnival.
Alligator Blood made an ultra-impressive return to the track at Doomben on Saturday despite having his colours lowered by slick sprinter The Odyssey.
The son of All To Hard lost few admirers after jockey Ryan Maloney spotted the leaders seven lengths turning for home.
Despite the big head start and conceding 7kg to most of his rivals, Alligator Blood reeled off some unbelievable sectionals to get within 1.1-lengths of The Odyssey when running third.
Just Orm finished runner-up.
Endresz was full of admiration for his group one winner who uncharacteristically bungled the start.
"It was a gallant performance considering how the race unfolded," Endresz said.
"Ryan was of the opinion if he didn't miss the start and was able to settle a bit closer, it might have been a different outcome.
"He was motoring home and that's all we wanted to see in regards to his spring carnival aspirations.
"We had a meeting on Sunday morning and have decided the 1200m of The Everest is well short of Al's preferred distance.
"So will will target the Silver Eagle over 1300m before The Golden Eagle over 1500m and where we know he is at his most lethal.
"It will see a return clash with Catalyst which is shaping as potentially one of the highlights of the spring carnival."
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Endresz revealed Alligator Blood ran a quicker last 600m on Saturday than when he captured his sole group 1 victory in the Australian Guineas at Flemington over the Autumn carnival in February.
"He came home in 33.22 which was faster than when he won the Australian Guineas when he ran 33.59," he said.
"To put it in perspective when Gytrash beat Redzel, Loving Gabby and Nature Strip in the Lightning, he got home in 33.61.
"So it gives you an idea what Alligator Blood is capable of when he is at the peak of his powers."
Endresz warned punters before Saturday's race that Alligator Blood could be vulnerable despite being the class runner in the field.
He cited top-weight of 61kg, the 1110m sprint trip and some formidable rivals as all potential stumbling blocks.
"We didn't head to Doomben expecting an easy kill," he said.
"David had no choice because 'Al' needed a lead-up run before Sydney.
"That race was the best available option even though we knew we had the odd stacked against us.
"There is a stack of improvement in the horse and we want the horse peaking for his grand final which is the Golden Eagle."
Endresz said Alligator Blood could trial again in his home state before arriving in Sydney.