All Too Hard notched his fourth elite winner this season when Hard Too Think scored an emotional victory for trainer Stephen Gray in the Singapore Derby (Sing-Gr.1) on Sunday.
The Vinery Champion has gone from strength in 2020-21 with Australian Group 1 winners Behemoth (MRC Memsie Stakes & MRC Rupert Clarke Stakes) and Forbidden Love (ATC Surround Stakes). He also sired Wellington to win the Chairman’s Sprint Gr.1 in Hong Kong.
“It feels surreal. I’m actually quite sad,” Gray admitted. “When I headed down from the grandstand, I shook my head and had a bit of a tear. COVID-19 has depleted our business, not just for me, but all the trainers have been hit hard.
“When I won the Derby back in 2007 with Lim’s Prestige it changed my life. Now I’ve won the second at a time when our livelihood is at stake.”
Hard Too Think started one of the outsiders in the classic despite 3 wins and 3 placings in his first 10 starts at Kranji. “We had a perfect trip throughout,” stable jockey Marc Lerner reported. “Stephen gave me carte blanche and everything just fell into place.
“I really adore this horse. He’s very easy to ride, very tractable, does whatever you ask and he also has the temperament of a classy horse. Mr Malek towed us into the race till the 400 metres, and when I went past him, I knew we could outstay them.”
All Too Hard sired the Aussie expat from Mnemonic (Hussonet) who is an unraced daughter of Zabeel’s Newcastle winner Memorisation. He was bred by Gerry Harvey and sold through the Baramul Stud draft for $45,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
“I bought him at the Gold Coast and sent him to New Zealand,” Gray recalled. “I syndicated him as a yearling although there weren’t many people on board at first. He’s genuine and I like horses who try hard so we’ve really looked after him.”
Mnemonic’s 2yo Far Too Easy (All Too Hard) is unbeaten after two recent wins at Grafton for owner-trainer David McColm and the mare foaled a third All Too Hard colt last November.
All Too Hard is an across-the-board Top 10 stallion in Australia this season with 137 individual winners including the winners of 11 Stakes races. He’s also sired a career-best prizemoney total of $9.89million and can break through $10million before season’s end next Saturday night.
Vinery stands All Too Hard for a $33,000 (inc GST) service fee with payment on a live foal. For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
