Three times Melbourne Cup legend Makybe Diva, Coolmore Classic winner Bollinger and the dam of Group One winning 3yo colt Zoustar were among a spectacular opening book of mares presented to internationally acclaimed galloper All Too Hard in the Spring of 2013.
All Too Hard claimed the Champion 3yo Colt Award last season in what was acknowledged as a stellar year for three-year-old colts and geldings, polling 264 votes from Pierro on 148 and It’s A Dundeel on 119.
Indeed in any other year, All Too Hard would have been the nation’s undisputed Horse of the Year, but while his half-sister Black Caviar was still racing, he was going to find it hard to deny her despite his four Group 1’s and a Cox Plate second.
All Too Hard earned the Champion Colt title during an awesome three year-old season. After powering past Pierro in the G1 Caulfield Guineas, he lost no friends when caught on the line by Ocean Park in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Team Hawkes brought him back for an unbeaten WFA Autumn campaign that included the G1 Orr Stakes and G1 Futurity Stakes in Melbourne before a break and finishing with a thundering victory in the G1 All Aged Stakes at Randwick.
“All Too Hard is just an absolute athlete and is right up there with Lonhro,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said. “He’s got the family, the pedigree and a big heart.”
All Too Hard’s first season saw him cover an initial book of impeccable class and quality;
All Too Hard covered no less than 18 Group One winners including Allez Wonder, Bel Mer, Bollinger, Devil Moon, Fashions Afield, Headway, Mid Summer Music, Maybe Diva, Mirjulisa Lass, Regimental Gal, Scarlett Lady, Serious Speed, & Sun Classique in addition to covering another 54 individual Group or Listed winners.
Also in the first book were the dams of a dozen Group One winners including that of NZ Champion 2yo of last season Ruud Awakening, 3 times G1 winner & Champion Miler in Singapore Better Life, Cox Plate winner Savabeel & Golden Slipper winner Polar Success.
All Too Hard was also the chosen mate for the dams of another 22 Group and Listed winners and the full or half relations to a further 16 Group One winners including Carry On Cutie, Catbird, Hurtle Myrtle, Igugu, Laisserfaire, Royal Descent, Samaready, Snitzel, Snitzerland, Typhoon Tracy, etc.
All Too Hard’s initial book is an A to Z of mares who won or have foaled Group 1 and Group 2 winners.
“It was a difficult decision for us to retire a colt with so much more to offer as a racehorse, particularly with The Championships on offer this year,” said Vinery Stud’s general manager Peter Orton. “All Too Hard did all we could have asked for and more on the track and is now excelling in the breeding barn.”
A selection of his mares includes;
ALLEZ WONDER Won G1 Toorak Hcp
ASPEN FALLS Dam of G1 Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights
BEL MER Won G1 Swettenham Stud Stakes
BOLLINGER Won G1 STC Coolmore Stakes
CATEGORICAL Dam of G2 winner Krupt
CHAMPAGNE HARMONY Won G2 SAJC Yallambee Classic
DAWN ALMIGHTY Dam of G1 NZ Diamond Stakes winner Ruud Awakening
DEVIL MOON Won G1 VRC Turnbull Stakes
DIVINE REBEL Won G2 AJC Chairman’s Hcp.
EMPRESS JADE Dam of G2 VRC Kewney Stakes Empress Jade
FASHIONS AFIELD Won G1 AJC Flight Stakes & G1 AJC Sires Produce Stakes
FUJI FAIRY Dam of triple G1 winner Yosei
GALLANT TESS Won G2 AJC Challenge Stakes & NSW Breeders Classic
HEADWAY Won G1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes & G3 AJC Sweet Embrace Stakes
JESTAJEWEL Dam of G2 ATC Shorts winner Pampelonne
JUICE Won G1 NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes
MADAM FLURRY Dam of G1 winner Happy Trails
MAKYBE DIVA Won G1 Melbourne Cup (3) & G1 Cox Plate
MIDNIGHT MARTINI Won G2 VRC Matriarch Stakes
MID SUMMER MUSIC Won G1 BRC Stradbroke Hcp.
MIRJULISA LASS Won G1 ATC Vinery Stakes
MRS SQUILLIONAIRE Dam of G1 Singapore Kris Flyer winner Green Birdie
NIGHT WAR Won G2 WATC Karrakatta Plate
NO EVIDENCE NEEDED Won G2 VRC Let’s Elope Stakes
OCEAN BRIDGE Dam of G2 ATC Tea Rose Stakes winner Longport
OLONANA Won G2 AJC Challenge Stakes
PALIA Dam of G1 winner Onemorenomore
PATOU Dam of G1 STC Golden Slipper Stakes winner Polar Success
QUIET LIFE Dam of G1 Singapore Gold Cup winner Better Life
REGAL FLUTE Dam of G2 winner Majestic Music.
REGIMENTAL GAL Won G1 VRC Lightning Stakes & VRC Australia Stakes
RIGHTLY SO Won G1 Saratoga Ballerina Stakes
ROYAL SEASON Dam of G2 VRC Sires Produce Stakes winner Twilight Royal
SCARLETT LADY Won G1 QTC Oaks & NZ Oaks
SECRET CAUSE Dam of G1 SAJC Derby winner Escado
SERIOUS SPEED Won G1 MRC One Thousand Guineas
SEVEN STARS Dam of G2 ATC Expressway Stakes winner Happy Galaxy
SKYERUSH Won G2 ATC Emancipation Stakes (twice)
STOLEN BEAUTY Dam of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Real Surreal
SWORN TO SECRECY Won G2 ATC Emacipation Stakes
SUN CLASSIQUE Four time international G1 winner in Sth Africa and Dubai
TENNESSEE MIDNIGHT Dam of G1 STC Coolmore Stakes winner Aloha
TIMBOURINA Won G2 VRC Wakeful Stakes
TUGELA Dam of Makybe Diva, Valkyrie Diva and Musket
VORMISTA Won G2 VRC Rose Of Kingston Stakes
ZEFTA Dam of G2 SAJC Centrebet Classic winner Go The Knuckle
ZOUZOU Dam of G1 ATC Golden Rose winner Zoustar
