News

All Too Easy For All Too Hard

31st Mar 2012

Racing And Sports - Alex Steedman - Saturday, 31 March 2012

All Too Hard has recorded a clinical win in the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill this afternoon with a decision on whether he will contest the Golden Slipper to be made early next week.

Having his first start the Sydney way of going, All Too Hard was dominant when cruising away to a one length win in the Group 2 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).

Connections will now deliberate over the coming days on whether the half brother to Black Caviar backs up in the Group 1 Golden Slipper where a win would greatly enhance his stallion value.

“We're not going to make decisions overnight,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said. “We've got until Tuesday morning.”

“We'll see how he pulls up and we'll assess things from there.”

The Casino Prince colt has already rocketed into joint favouritism for the lucrative juvenile event at Rosehill on April 7, quoted at $3 by TAB Sportsbet along with the Mick Price-trained Samaready .

The $1million yearling purchase continued to recoup some of his price tag in today's Pago Pago Stakes comfortably accounting for his rivals in the straight after settling near the tail of the field.

“He jumped okay and got back but we left it up to Dwayne [Dunn] however it panned out,” Hawkes said.

“He was on the best horse, ride him like it is. He didn't panic, he just nursed him around the corner. When he got up outside he just said lets go, gave him a couple of slaps. He was eased down and it was an easy win in the end.

“The horse was going that easy he didn't have to push him out, he knew he had everything covered. We'll take on step at a time and see how he pulls up.”

Dwayne Dunn was full of praise for All Too Hard with the experienced jockey riding the colt hands and heels from the final furlong before easing him down over the concluding stages.

“He was the best horse in the race so I just let him cruise around them as he did and he just has that nice killer punch when you want to put them away,” Dunn said.

“He has done as much work up here as he has in Melbourne and he felt very comfortable this way of going.

“He is holding together nicely. He is taking the next step every time. They were probably second raters again today but he is the real deal and we think he is a three-year-old which is when we think he will be a superstar.

“To do this at this stage is just excellent.”

Dunn was non committal as to where he thought All Too Hard's next start should come following the convincing win today.

“They've [connections] got their own agenda and own plan and I am just happy to turn up and ride him whichever race they want to run him in,” Dunn said.