News

All Too Hard seduces Sydney on route to Royal Ascot

27th Apr 2013

Super colt All Too Hard seduced racegoers with a tremendous performance on the final day of the 2013 Sydney Carnival, taking out the Group 1 ATC All Aged Stakes over 1400m at Royal Randwick.

All Too Hard ($1,025,000 2011 Easter, 3c Casino Prince-Helsinge) was having his final Australian start on route to the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and he didn’t let his fans down, finishing over the top of Rain Affair with Fiorente back in third.

"We always thought he was the real deal and he certainly proved it today. He is just the most magnificent looking animal and a really classy racehorse,” said Vinery’s Peter Orton.

"We didn’t need to be here today, he's got nothing to prove but you don't duck and dive from these things, it was just great to see him get his return and yes, we will definitely be on our way to England," said Orton.

Black Caviar’s half-brother, All Too Hard will depart Australia as the only horse to win the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, CF Orr Stakes, Futurity Stakes and All Aged Stakes in the same racing season. The last three wins all coming since he was acquired as a stallion prospect to stand at Vinery Stud.

"He’s just an absolute athlete. He’s up there with the best, alongside Lonhro and Octagonal,” said co-trainer Michael Hawkes

The valuable colt was the first progeny of outstanding broodmare Helsinge to top the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in consecutive years from 2011 to 2013.

All Too Hard was knocked down to Hawkes Racing for $1,025,000 at the 2011 Easter Sale. Redoute’s Choice filly Belle Couture topped the 2012 Easter Sale when selling for $2.6 million to BC3 Thoroughbreds, who set a new Australasian record price for a yearling when purchasing the Redoute’s Choice colt from Helsinge for $5 million at this year’s Easter Sale on 9 April.

Many of Black Caviar’s part-owners share in ownership of All Too Hard and are no doubt keen to return to Royal Ascot, the place of the mare’s courageous Jubilee Stakes victory last year.

All Too Hard is currently raced by a large group of excited owners; Vinery Stud, Kia-Ora Stud, Echo Beach Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Stratheden Stud, Mr B M Nolan, Peters Investments Pty Ltd, Nearco Stud Ltd, Mr C Oxley, Mr C H Madden, Dr R H Burgess, Mr C S Lord, Mr J Lord, Ramsey Pastoral Company Pty Ltd, Mr D Paradise, Cressfield Thoroughbreds Ltd, Mrs J Allan, Mr G J Wilkie, Mr B C Rudd, Mrs P A Hawkes and Rockmount.

All Too Hard
Race Record: 12:7-2-1, including four Group 1 wins
Prizemoney: A$2,283,200
Breeding: Casino Prince x Helsinge (by Desert Sun)
Breeder: Rick Jamieson of Gilgai Farm
Sale: $1,025,000 at 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale
Buyer: Hawkes Racing