Proven Vinery stallion All Too Hard sired his 28^th individual Stakes winner on Saturday when the Bjorn Baker trainer Little Baia won the Group 3 Aspiration Quality over 1600m at Royal Randwick.

Having her first start in Stakes company, the five-year-old mare flew the gates to lead from start to finish, kicking on strongly in the straight to win by a half-length with Rachel King in the saddle.

The result was especially pleasing for the mare’s owners and connections who have shown plenty of patience with her and were rewarded accordingly with valuable Black Type.

“She’s a big, strong mare and she’s really continued to develop,” said Bjorn Baker post race.

“She’s one of those horses that even a year, year and a half ago we debated whether we should proceed with her, but I’ve always had a lot of faith in her and she’s got a really good pedigree and she’s a Group 3 winner now, so an amazing result for the team”.

Rachel King was also quick to praise the mare’s performance after returning to scale.

“She did her thing, she got out there in front, got a nice first half of the race, and 53 kilos on her back which we took full advantage of. (She) probably put them to the sword a little bit early but I knew she’s a very fit horse and she’s very talented.

“Her confidence is really great but she’s bigger and stronger as well in this preparation. I galloped her on Tuesday and noticed a big difference, having been away, how much bigger and stronger she is, and she’s putting that on the racetrack,” said King.

Bred by Gilgai Farm in Nagambie (who also bred and sold All Too Hard), Little Baia was a $110,000 yearling purchase from the 2021 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for Bjorn Baker and Clarke Bloodstock. She is out of the Group Two-winning Street Sense mare La Passe.

Saturday’s win continued an incredible run of success for the Bjorn Baker stable, as well his great affinity with the progeny of All Too Hard.

Baker trained last year’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap heroine Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) and he also has the promising two-year-old filly Horseshoe Hill (All Too Hard) in his stable. Before heading for a spell, Horseshoe Hill ran third in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL) in December.

It comes as no surprise that Baker and Clarke have been active on All Too Hard’s progeny in the sales ring again this year. The duo purchased a filly out of the Zoustar mare Jacqueline for $160,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January. They also signed for a colt out of the Vinery draft at the recent Inglis Classic Sale in Sydney for $80,000.