Star galloper Alligator Blood will be out to defend his crown in the VRC Champions Mile after his gallant third placing in the Cox Plate.
Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse said it was the logical progression to follow the same path as last year.
Last year Alligator Blood finished fifth in the Cox Plate before he went to Flemington where he led throughout.
Alligator Blood will renew his rivalry against Mr Brightside in a small select field of seven.
They have met 10 times over the past 14 months with the scorecard in Mr Brightside’s favour at 6-4.
Mr Brightside has finished in front of Alligator Blood at their past five meetings including their last start in the Cox Plate when they finished second and third respectively.
In last year’s VRC Champions Mile Alligator Blood won and Mr Brightside finished third.
Mr Brightside also finished seventh in the 2022 Cox Plate before he ran at Flemington in the VRC Champions Mile.
Mr Brightside has dominated Alligator Blood this year as he has finished in front of him on the last five times they have met including three times this spring.
They last met at Flemington in the Makybe Diva Stakes also over 1600 metres, where Mr Brightside defeated Alligator Blood.
– racing.com
