The decision to knock back big-money offers for Far Too Easy looked the right option when he became the first qualifier for the $500,000 NSW Country Championships Final at Randwick in April
The promising son of Vinery champion All Too Hard landed Heat 1 of the Country Championships at Grafton on Saturday as an odds-on favourite after enduring a taxing run in transit. Caught three-wide from an outside alley, he circled the field on the corner and toughed out a narrow victory over last-start city winner Zoukina (Zoustar).
Far Too Easy had kicked off his career with a Grafton double last July before claiming the Winning Rupert Plate at Doomben in December. “The phone was ringing off the hook,” trainer David McColm recalled. “The offers were close to seven-figures and obviously very tempting but we decided to have a go ourselves. That’s what we’re in it for.”
McColm and his wife Judith bought Far Too Easy for $45,000 at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions in partnership with Donald and Mary Wardlaw. His older full-brother Hard Too Think had sold for the same price in 2018 and he’s a two-time Group 1 winner of the Singapore Derby and Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kranji.
“My son Archie is an Alligator Blood fan so we inspected every All Too Hard yearling and I really liked this one from Baramul Stud,” McColm said. “He presented like a professional and had good legs and a great eye. We got him cheaply as he was on the small side but that hasn’t been an issue because he’s grown into a well put-together galloper.”
Far Too Easy (3g All Too Hard – Mnemonic by Hussonet) has won 5 of his 8 starts for prizemoney of $360,550. “He takes the next step every time he’s asked,” McColm added. “It was a little bit daunting taking on the top horses in the Magic Millions Guineas last month but he did a great job to finish fourth.
“We are getting into races now that are obviously a lot harder but he’s a nice horse and I think he can take another step again in Sydney.”
The NSW Country Championships continue at Wagga and Taree this weekend with Vinery sires represented in both heats. Casino Prince 3yo colt Scarlet Prince has been entered for the Southern Districts qualifier on Saturday. The Mid North Coast nominations on Sunday includes Imatruestar (Star Turn) and Vilified (Press Statement).
