Sydney galloper Steely was a class above the locals first-up in Brisbane on Saturday despite racing three and four wide in the Canadian Club Hcp (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
The Sunshine State welcomed the All Too Hard gelding 38 starts into his career and dropping 5kg from his previous outing at Rosehill was an obvious pointer for punters. After firming into a $3 second-favourite, he settled into a rhythm and had the field covered soon after letting down for Ben Thompson.
“He’s awesome and that was a magic win,” Thompson said. “We were four pairs back with cover from a tricky gate. He strode into the race and finished it off so well.”
Steely (7g All Too Hard – Quintessential by Fast ‘N’ Famous) has been with Rosehill trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou since graduating from the 2018 Inglis Ready2Race Sale for $115,000. His dam had won the 2012 Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2400m), however, he presented a little backward owing to a repossession order from his sale as a yearling.
“Gerald thought he could develop into a pretty nice type at the right price,” Alexiou recalled. “He won first-up as an August 3yo at Hawkesbury and was obviously talented but he was also a bit ordinary as a colt.
“He was gelded and then had to have throat surgery so, all up, he was sidelined for twelve months. He’s by All Too Hard and was always going to get better with age. He’s straightforward in the stable and every preparation he improves a few lengths.”
Saturday’s win sent his earnings through $700,000 for a syndicate managed by Mervyn Wood who also raced million-dollar earner Peltzer (So You Think). “He won a Group 2 (Stan Fox Stakes) and Group 3 (Eskimo Prince Stakes) at Randwick and has probably been my best horse.
“But the most special has been Steely,” Wood claimed. “No horse won more race than him in NSW during his 4yo season 2020-21.”
Wood goes back a long way. His first horse was Better Comment (Minor Portion) and she won the 1973 AJC Flight Stakes (Gr.1, 1600m) before being purchased by Texan oil billionaire Nelson Bunker Hunt.
A half-brother to Steely by Almanzor has been catalogued as Lot 201 by Curraghmore Stud for the NZB Ready To Run Sale on November 22 & 23. All Too Hard has five sons entered for that Karaka Sale.
Vinery stands All Too Hard for a $38,500 (inc GST) service fee payable on a live foal. For bookings or further information, contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).
