Sires Produce winner All Too Hard is only a fifty fifty chance of taking his place in the rich Golden Slipper after a devastating win in Group 2 $250,000 Henry Bucks Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington today.
Trainer John Hawkes would not commit to a start in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 7 after Black Caviar’s half brother left his opposition stranded with a very impressive turn of foot.
Hawkes doesn’t want to rush into a decision but he thinks All Too Hard will be more suited to the Group 1 $500,000 ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 14 and the Group 1 $400,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m) At Randwick on April 21 aand is looking forward to his three year old season.
“It was a really good win,” Hawkes said. “He’s always been a switched on horse from day one. We’ve trained a lot of colts over the years and he is certainly up there with them.”
“He is doing it as a young horse and he will be a much better three year old, that’s my opinion.”
All Too Hard was never in any doubt and the $4.60 favourite had the race won a long way from home indicating that a bright future is ahead, but Hawkes won’t be rushed into an early Slipper decision.
“We won’t rush into anything. We’ll see how he progresses with the run. Possibly may or may not, it’ll be fifty fifty. We don’t rule anything out and we’ll see how he progresses and go from there,” he said.
Jockey Dwayne Dunn made it two wins from two starts on All Too Hard and is very keen to maintain his association with the two year old after he eased the colt down for an easy win.
Dunn Settled All Too Hard in the second half of the field after a slow start but as soon as he eased him out on the home turn it was plan to see that he had a lap full of horse and the race was as good as over.
“He settled really good for me behind. When I clicked him a little bit off the top corner he picked them off straight away and I had to put him back into neutral,” Dunn said.
“Today was a bit of smash up derby in front of me, he settled really good from behind, that’s asset he’s got as well. Once he pinned his ears back I thought I’ve finally found myself a good one so I’ll have to tie myself onto him now.”
Dunn is happy to wait for Hawkes to decide where his next race will be and agrees with Hawkes that his three year olds will be his best.
The Tony McEvoy trained Jimando was never in a winning spot and the $5 second favourite only battled on to finish sixth.
