Champion trainer Mike De Kock has his two year-olds getting mobile and All Too Hard colt Frosted Gold opened the stable’s black-type account for juveniles at Turffontein on Saturday.
After creating a lasting impression on debut at Vaal last month, Frosted Gold remained unbeaten despite having to share a dead-heat decision with grey colt Twilight Moon in the Storm Bird Stakes LR. Both youngsters raced greenly and will improve for a Champions Day rematch in the SA Nursery Gr.2 at Turffontein in May.
Frosted Gold is the 7th Stakes winner by All Too Hard. The Vinery sire has a perfect record of four winners from four starters in South Africa with his filly Roy’s Riviera was also Group 3 placed in the Flamboyant Stakes at Greyville.
All Too Hard got the Storm Bird winner from Mary d’Or (Verglas), a French-bred sister to Prix Jean Prat Gr.1 winner Stormy River. She is now based in NZ after being purchased by JML Bloodstock’s Lib Patenga for $210,000 at a Patinack Farm dispersal in 2014.
Frosted Gold was in touch early down the straight course on Saturday but jockey Gavin Lerena had to work hard to keep him focused before the pressure intensified at the furlong. “He fought back well to get a share of the win and that’s encouraging,” assistant-trainer Mathew De Kock observed. “It was a very competitive race and it looks like he wants a bit more ground when we step up in class for the autumn.”
All Too Hard increased his overall stats to 140 winners of 277 races on the weekend which is well ahead of any other third-crop sire standing in Australia. His 3yo filly Amangiri will be set for the Australian Oaks Gr.1 by Team Hawkes on the back of an eye-catching maiden win at Randwick on Wednesday.
His 4yo gelding Superhard is also looking for a black-type assignment after clocking 57.29s to win the Jase & P.J. Sprint (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday. It improved his record to 7 wins in 16 starts and the closing split of 32.09s was the fastest 600m sectional on Super Saturday!
Superhard had won the Port Fairy Cup at Warrnambool before a spell and a change of stables. Incoming trainer John Sadler mentioned the Victoria Hcp Gr.3 at Caulfield as a possible target on Easter Saturday, April 20.
Messerschmitt is another All Too Hard ready for a rise in class after winning in front of a large Adelaide Cup crowd on Monday. He had won first-up at Kyneton last month and launched from the tail of the field for an explosive victory in the Leconfield Wines Hcp (1200m) at Morphettville.
Messerschmitt had been a precocious 2yo colt last season winning a Ballarat nursery and finishing close-up in the Debutante Stakes LR and Inglis Premier LR at Caulfield. But he didn’t come up in the spring so was spelled and gelded by Prime Thoroughbreds and trainer Anthony Freedman.
“That was the making of him,” assistant-trainer Sam Freedman said. “He’s won both starts since being gelded and is racing with renewed confidence. The owners have been patient and we will certainly step him up in grade now.
Messerschmitt was a $140,000 buy for Prime Thoroughbreds when offered by Vinery at the 2017 Inglis Melbourne Premier. His dam Night War (General Nediym) won a Karrakatta Plate Gr.2 in Perth and is a half-sister to Group 1 winning filly Samaready (More Than Ready).
Night War’s yearling colt by Press Statement is with Ciaron Maher after changing hands for $130,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale. She has an All Too Hard colt on the ground and was covered by Star Turn in October.
