Trainer David McColm reports Far Too Easy is ticking over perfectly ahead of a career-high assignment in the $1million Magic Millions Cup (RL, 1400m) at the Gold Coast in a fortnight.
Last seen joining All Too Hard’s black-type ranks in the BRC Lough Neagh Stakes (LR, 1400m) at Eagle Farm, he will have a serious workout at Murwillumbah tomorrow (Tuesday) morning before a final gallop there on Saturday.
“We’ve missed the rain up north and so far that’s allowed us to get all the work into him but he’s best on soft tracks and we would like it wet for the Magic Millions Cup,” McColm said on New Year’s Eve. “The four-week gap between runs suits him down to the ground. He’s a clean-winded horse and those two hit-outs will have him ready.”
Far Too Easy (pictured) became the 24th Stakes winner by Vinery sire All Too Hard at Eagle Farm. He won by more than four lengths from Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock) who had won the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (RL, 1400m) in 2020 and Magic Millions Cup (RL, 1400m) in 2021. A lightly-raced 5yo, he has won 8 of 19 starts for earnings over $1.29million since graduating from the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale for $45,000.
“My son Archie is a mad-keen fan of Alligator Blood so we inspected the All Too Hard yearlings and I really liked this one from Baramul Stud,” McColm recalled. “He presented like a professional and handled the pressure of the Sale really well.”
David and his wife Jude race Far Too Easy with good friends Donald and Mary Wardlaw. “He had good legs and a great eye, as well as great conformation. Being on the small side wasn’t an issue – he grew and is well put-together now. He’s taken the next step every time we’ve asked,” McColm claimed. “I think he’s up to winning the Magic Millions Cup.”
Far Too Easy is a younger full-brother to Singapore Derby (LR, 2000m) winner Hard Too Think and their dam Mnemonic (Hussonet) has an All Too Hard yearling colt and filly foal in the pipeline at Baramul. “I really like All Too Hard,” McColm said. “He sires outstanding performers like Alligator Blood and even the ones well below that level are bread-and-butter horses.”
The current yearling colt by the Vinery sire is catalogued as Lot 969 by Baramul at the Magic Millions Sale during the Saturday evening session on January 13 and McColm expects he will be knocked down for a wee bit extra than what it took to buy Far Too Easy. “That’s another good thing about All Too Hard. His yearlings are affordable but I’m sure Baramul will be wanting more than $45,000 for this one.”
Baramul Racing Manager Luke Macdonald rates the August-born bay colt highly ahead of on-site inspections that commence on Wednesday. “He’s developing into a similar mould to Far Too Easy. He has a fantastic frame and is a quality individual,” Macdonald said. “He hasn’t missed a beat this yearling prep and I think he will be well received at the Sale.”
