All Too Hard was all alone at the top of Saturday’s sire list with six winners around Australia headed by Ita (Randwick) and Hard To Cross (Sandown).
Ita broke a run of outs going back to the start of the season when trainer Bjorn Baker decided the addition of blinkers would make a difference in the Celebration of Women Hcp (1600m). It was also the fourth leg of a career-best five wins for Baker.
A 5yo daughter of the Vinery sire, she jumped with the leaders from a wide gate and was given the run of race behind to pace by Adam Hyeronimus to score running away by more than two lengths from Pharoah’s Reign (American Pharoah) and Lekvarte (Reliable Man).
“Ita is a very good horse and got the job done,” Baker said. “I thought we could have a good day but this is one you dream about. And to do it at Randwick is very, very special. It’s the best racecourse in the world.”
Ita was bred by Raheen Stud’s Basil Nolan and has now earned $400,000 for a large syndicate managed by Thoroughbred Leasing’s Graeme Smith. “She’s a genuine mare but I told the owners early on she would take time to mature,” Baker added. “She was only beaten a bit more than a length in the ($500,000) Little Dance here on Melbourne Cup Day and I’m thrilled for Graeme and his syndicate today.”
Her dam Dayita (Show A Heart) had won to 2400m at Flemington (2), Moonee Valley (2), and Caulfield while under the care of Peter Moody. She’s four-from-four at stud and her latest is a weanling colt by Raheen’s Fastnet Rock sire Heroic Valour.
Two hours after Ita cruised home at Randwick, All Too Hard 3yo Hard To Cross (NZ) had a fight on his hands before landing the IVE Hcp (1600m) at Sandown Hillside. There was a lot to like about the victory, albeit by a nose, over NZ-bred Golden Path who is rated very highly by trainers Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr).
Hard To Cross is prepared by Patrick Payne after graduating from Maluka Thoroughbreds (as agent) for $140,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. “It’s the first time I’ve been on him but he obviously put a nice couple of runs together earlier this prep,” Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jye McNeil said. “It was the right timing because Paddy had him in really good condition for today.”
Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay bred him by using All Too Hard over their mare Egyptian Cross (Commands). She was carrying the Sandown winner when changing hands for $120,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Sale. Second-dam Our Egyptian Raine (Desert Sun) won a Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) in New Zealand.
The All Too Hard 3yo division can notch another win this Wednesday when Perfect Ending is the topical tip in the Tobin Brothers Hcp (1600m) at Sandown. She won at Geelong and Mornington earlier this prep and trainer Matt Cumani will be tipping her out shortly for a winter spell.
“Perfect Ending is maturing beautifully and it was a tough win at Mornington last time,” Cumani said. “Her breeder John Brady and the team at Wyndholm Park have been patient and she will come back a lovely four-year-old.”
All Too Hard stands for a $38,500 (inc. GST) service fee at Vinery with payment on a live foal. For bookings or further information, contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
