All Too Hard

All Too Hard's first race was on the 18 February 2012 at Flemington in the Listed Talindert Stakes. His debut gained much media attention due to his relationship to Black Caviar. He won the race by 1.5 lengths and co-trainer Wayne Hawkes commented after the race, "There is always a fair bit of pressure on the horse and everyone is looking at him. It was a nice little race for him and it is onwards and upwards from here."[4]

Three weeks later he raced again at Flemington in the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes. He settled back in the field before producing a dazzling turn of foot under the guidance of jockey Dwayne Dunn to win by a comfortable four lengths.[5]

He then made it three wins from as many starts in the Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill. After comfortably hitting the front in the home straight, he was eased right down on the line to win by a length as the $1.35 favourite. Such was the ease of the victory, bookmakers immediately elevated him to Golden Slipper favouritism.[6]

However, trainer John Hawkes sent a shockwave through racing circles by announcing the horse would not line up in the $3.5 million Golden Slipper, but would wait an extra week for the $500,000 AJC Sires' Produce. Hawkes said, "The horse is fine but the horse comes first and we decided to wait for the Sires. That's it in a nutshell."[7]

The Sires' Produce worked out to be what some billed as a match race between All Too Hard ($1.65 favourite) and the fellow unbeaten colt Pierro ($3.20). All Too Hard tasted defeat for the first time running second behind Pierro.[8]

On the 18 August 2012, All Too Hard resumed in the San Domenico Stakes at Randwick as a $2.15 favourite. He began slowly out of the barriers and was quickly hampered by another runner. Once straightening, he only passed a few runners to finish in third placing.[9]

After finishing unplaced in both The Run To The Rose and the George Main Stakes, All Too Hard returned to Melbourne and contested the Caulfield Guineas. He started at the odds of $12 behind unbeaten horse Pierro who was looking for his ninth consecutive victory. Pierro who started the $1.20 favourite jumped from the barriers awkwardly and jockey Nash Rawiller was forced to work overtime to be up with the leaders. All Too Hard sat back in the field and was able to come with a well-timed run and overhauled Pierro in the last few strides.[10]

All Too Hard next contested the 2012 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Due to the weight-for-age conditions the horse was allocated 49.5kg, therefore regular rider Dwayne Dunn was replaced by the lightweight Chris Munce. Munce settled him near the leaders and used the 8kg weight advantage to dash clear at the turn, however he was run down late to finish second by a neck margin to Ocean Park, with Pierro a further three lengths back in third position. Munce said after the race, "He raced a lot closer than I expected but he also began a lot better too, so I was happy to let him travel up a bit closer with no weight on his back. He travelled like the winner, and when he shot through off the corner I thought he was going to be hard to beat."[11]

A month after his Cox Plate defeat, All Too Hard was sold by Nathan Tinkler to Vinery Stud for a reported $25 million. Vinery Stud announced that the horse would continue to race under trainer John Hawkes.[12]

On the 9 February 2013, All Too Hard was successful in the C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield when the $2.25 favourite. This would prove to be his second Group 1 victory. He then won back-to-back Group 1's in the Futurity Stakes and All Aged Stakes. After his victory in the All Aged Stakes, Vinery Stud announced that the horse would be retired from racing and commence duties as a stallion at their stud.[13]

All Too Hard Group 1 winners:

c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding