All Too Hard mare Babylon Berlin stripped looking a ball of muscle in the parade ring at Te Rapa before blasting her rivals in the Group 3 King’s Plate (1200m) on Saturday.
All too often the bridesmaid in Group 1 company, Babylon Berlin relished the drop back in grade to win by seven lengths as the $1.10 favourite. Allowed to cruise in front by jockey Kozzi Asano, she still clocked a quick 1:08.65s in what was effectively a training gallop.
It earned another Group 1 assignment across the Tasman in the William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 24. She had gone into the King’s Plate off brave seconds at the elite level in the BCD Sprint, Telegraph Hcp and Railway Stakes. “We are so proud,”
said. “She always tries really hard and has been working super since we gave her a short break after the BCD Sprint. I left it up to Kozzi if they took her on. We knew she could run time and she proved that today.
“There’s still some improvement which gives us confidence going to Melbourne. She rails like a greyhound so Moonee Valley will definitely suit.”
The $1million William Reid is scheduled a week after All Too Hard hero Alligator Blood runs in the $5million All-Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley. He is the current $3 favourite after topping the vote-count with a near-record response of 18,301.
The Kiwi mare would be the fourth individual Group 1 winner by Vinery champion All Too Hard in the last twelve months. She has won 7 of 23 starts with Saturday’s result her third Group 3 following the Cambridge Breeders Stakes and Auckland Concorde Hcp.
Babylon Berlin races for a syndicate that includes her breeder Scott Williams and Kim Rogers, Sam Beatson, Cedric Foote and Andrew Stuart and her residual value is already assured with a black-type pedigree on both sides of the Tasman. She’s the final foal of You Can’t Say That (Fusaichi Pegasus) who is also the dam of Darci Be Good (Newcastle Spring Stakes Gr.3 & Hawkesbury Cup Gr.3).
You Can’t Say That’s older half-sister Only Words (End Sweep) won four Group 2 events in Sydney and Brisbane for Chris Waller and her Deep Field gelding Chat won the Theo Marks Quality Gr.2 in 2021. Second-dam What Can I Say (Khozaam) was a Group winner in NZ (Mapperley Stud Stakes) and Australia (Warwick Stakes).
Team Hawkes trained All Too Hard to Champion Australian 3YO honours in 2013 and their record with his progeny increased to 19 winners of 46 races when Sessions Road capped a very successful Saturday at Flemington
Sessions Road improved his own strike-rate to 6 wins in 19 starts in the $150,000 Resimax Group Plate (1200m) after coming off a another straight-six placing behind D’jumbuck (Starspangledbanner) last month.
“That was a good run the other day,” co-trainer Wayne Hawkes recalled. “I told Mick (Dee) to sit on the leaders but don’t show him any daylight. That’s pretty hard in a small field down the straight but Mick rode him perfectly. And the horse busted a gut for him.
Sessions Road is raced by Colin and Jannene Madden and his dam Certainly Rosa (Undoubtedly) is a half-sister to Group 1-winning mare Snitzerland. Her most recent foals are a yearling colt from the first crop of Vinery sire Exceedance and a filly foal from the first crop of Vinery newcomer Ole Kirk.
“Colin and Jannene raced Black Caviar but they still get excited with this horse,” Hawkes said. “They’ve already come across and given me a big bear-hug. Winners are grinners.”
