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