News

Vinery purchase All Too Hard

16th Dec 2012

Vinery - Media Release - Saturday 15 December 2012

Vinery Stud has acquired boom three-year-old colt All Too Hard, half brother to Champion Black Caviar.

There have been many $1million plus yearling colts sold through the sales ring but none have performed better than the former Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale topper, All Too Hard.

His natural ability was evident early when he made his debut in the VRC Talindert Stakes where he won under a strangle hold before returning to the same course for his second start in the Group 2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes, again demonstrating he was a class above his rivals, winning by four lengths and shooting to favourite for the Golden Slipper.

Upon moving to Sydney All Too Hard had little trouble with the reverse direction, brilliantly winning the Group 2 ATC Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill. Trainer John Hawkes considered him more of a natural three-year-old type and decided to bypass the Golden Slipper and aim for the Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes where he ran second to Triple Crown winning 2yo Pierro.

Having won three of his four starts and second in a Group 1 as a juvenile All Too Hard was then sent for a spell, returning as a three-year-old.

After placing in the 1100m Group 3 ATC San Domenico behind speedster Snitzerland and running a good fourth against older horses in the Group 1 ATC George Main Stakes, All Too Hard was returned to Melbourne for the time honored MRC Caulfield Guineas. It was here he demonstrated an exceptional turn of foot running down Pierro in the race that has been the spring board to many successful stallions, including Champion sires such as Lonhro and Redoute’s Choice.

Again against older horses, All Too Hard entered a Cox Plate field which included 11 individual Group 1 winners who collectively amassed over $30million in prize money.

After receiving interference in the early stages, All Too Hard swept to the front rounding the turn and after a gallant battle with eventual winner Ocean Park in the straight, went down by just a neck.

The pedigree of All Too Hard needs little introduction.

A son of last season’s Champion First Season Sire Casino Prince, a former smart juvenile who started as favorite in the 2006 Golden Slipper and who went on to win a Group 1 as a 3yo. Flying Spur, the sire of Casino Prince was a Golden Slipper Winner and sired a Golden Slipper Winner.

Helsinge, the mother of All Too Hard has proven to be somewhat of a sensation as a producer. Her first foal Black Caviar is undefeated in 22 starts and is arguably the greatest sprinter we have ever seen.

All Too Hard’s second dam is the Group winning daughter of Snippets, Scandinavia, also the dam of Group 1 winning sprinter (over $1.3million) Magnus. Song Of Norway the third dam of All Too Hard produced 12 foals of which 11 raced and won. She is a daughter of another top class Australian sprinter and stallion in Vain.

“All Too Hard is one of the most exciting stallion prospects we have seen for many years. This horse is the real deal. Not only is he a super racehorse, his pedigree is perfectly suited to our conditions. All Too Hard is a spectacular individual physically; he has great power, precocity and presence, all the attributes that make a great stallion.” Vinery Stud General Manager Peter Orton said.

“All Too Hard will remain in training with astute horsemen, John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, which we are particularly pleased about. They know him so well and couldn’t have looked after him better.”

“The current race program is for All Too Hard to resume racing this autumn in Melbourne with the Australian Guineas as his initial goal before returning to Sydney for the Autumn Carnival there. We will be discussing the future programming of All Too Hard with the Hawkes team next week and seeking their advice going forward.”

With world champion sprinter, Black Caviar being crowned Cartier Champion Sprinter after her win in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot this year, All Too Hard has instant appeal as a shuttle stallion.

With this in mind it is envisaged All Too Hard will follow his famous half-sister Black Caviars footsteps and race internationally, further enhancing his appeal as a shuttle stallion to the Northern hemisphere.