A successful overseas campaign would enhance the prospects for future shuttle stallion All Too Hard after the Group 1 winning three year old was sold in a package for a reported $25 million over the weekend.
Black Caviar’s senior part owner Neil Werret joined forces with Magic Millions boss and Vinery Stud director Gerry Harvey to purchace All Too Hard from the embattled Nathan Tinkler in a package deal which included Tinkler’s Patinack Farm Hunter Valley breeding stud along with stallion Onemorenomore.
Werret said he was keen to see All Too Hard join the shuttle stallions and would be searching for a suitable Northern Hemisphere stud that would suit the half brother to Black Caviar and no doubt a Group 1 win in England would go a long way to lift the Caulfield Guineas winner overseas profile.
“We do want to shuttle All Too Hard when he does go to stud so we will be looking for an overseas stud for him to stand in the future,” Werret said.
“I’m thrilled to be involved in such an exciting colt from both a racing and breeding point of view.”
“Obviously the connection with Black Caviar makes it even more special and it’s great to finally get a hold of him.”
Werret confirmed that All Too Hard would continue to be trained by Team Hawkes who prepared the colt for his win in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13 before running a gallant second to Ocean Park in the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 27.
“He’ll continue to be trained by John Hawkes which we all agreed to when we first discussed buying him,” Werret said.
Werret will discuss All Too Hard’s Autumn plans with senior Team Hawkes trainer John Hawkes and map out a race track plan before the Casino Prince stallion begins stud duties in the Spring followed by his Northern Hemisphere season as a shuttle stallion.
“We need to speak with John Hawkes about that before we finalise any plans for All Too Hard’s autumn campaign,” Werret said.
Hawkes said that Autumn plans and a possible overseas campaign would be finalised once All Too Hard returns to stable life in the near future but the colt was doing well in the spelling paddock.
“We just want to see how All Too Hard goes when he gets back into the stable. He’s a bit stronger and more mature,” said Hawkes.
“I’m not worrying about overseas at the moment. Those things will look after themselves.”
Vinery boss Gerry Harvey was instrumental with the purchase of All Too Hard and said that plans are well under way to sell shares in the in the three year old that will put his value at almost $22 million.
“The deal on All Too Hard is that he will be done in 60 shares at $360,000 a share, which makes a total value of $21.6 million,” Harvey said.
“Vinery has taken 20 shares and we’ve already sold another 20 shares to outside stakeholders. We’ll do another 10 or 20 shares and everyone can then sit back and see him run for prizemoney before he goes off to stud next spring. And there could be a shuttle season for him into the northern hemisphere as well.
“So it’s all pretty exciting, though not so much for Nathan because I’m sure this colt was going to take him on a big ride. But with this deal, his racing problems will be stabilised for a bit.”
All Too Hard has won almost $1.5 million in prizemoney and as well as being the first horse to beat Gai Waterhouse’s super colt Pierro in the Caulfield Guineas, won the Group 2 $250,000 Henry Bucks Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 10 at his second race start.
