All Too Hard has banked $11.44 million in progeny earnings for 2022-23 to maintain his season-on-season increases since retiring at Vinery Stud.

He finished Top 12 in Australia for prizemoney and Top 10 for individual winners (133) with weight-for-age star Alligator Blood his chief earner after Group 1 victories in the MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m), VRC Cantala Stakes (1600m) and MRC Futurity Stakes (1400m).

Alligator Blood is back as good as ever this season and there’s a new guard of All Too Hard lieutenants like Arran Bay and Far Too Easy primed to perform in 2023-24.

“Who else is excited to see Alligator Blood return for the spring racing carnival?” co-trainer Gai Waterhouse tweeted.  “He’s heading for another crack at the Cox Plate.”

The five-time Group 1 winner tuned up for his return with a one-length barrier trial win over 900m at Randwick on Monday.  With regular jockey Tim Clark aboard, he settled right behind Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) before taking control in the closing stages for a cosy win.  Bookmakers have quoted him at $17 in pre-post markets for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday, October 28.

“The Cox Plate, that’s his race,” Waterhouse said.  “He goes well in Melbourne and he ran well in it last year on a Heavy 8.  I will speak to Gerry (Harvey) and tell him it’s the ideal race to show his champion qualities.”

Melbourne trainer Phillip Stokes will put the spring credentials of his All Too Hard galloper Arran Bay on the line over 1600m at Flemington this Saturday.  He won second-up at Caulfield last month and was scratched from Moonee Valley last Saturday in preference to a hit-out at Headquarters.

“He’s a Stakes horse in the making,” Stokes declared following Arran Bay’s last-start victory burdened with 61kg.  “There was good speed on and he went back and blended into the race.  He’s racing more tractably these days and is in for a good preparation.”

Arran Bay is a half-brother to Hong Kong winner Hurry Hurry Gain (Press Statement) and VRC Poseidon Stakes (LR, 1400m) winner One For One (Duke Of Marmalade) who was also a multiple winner in Hong Kong.

All Too Hard’s Champion Hong Kong sprinter Wellington is back home after a disappointing trip to Royal Ascot which was marred by barrier stall mishap in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m).

All Too Hard finished Top 6 on the Hong Kong sires premiership in 2022-23 and Wellington was by far the best of his six winners in the Group 1 Longines Sprint (1200m).  He will be gunning for a second victory in Hong Kong’s signature sprint for new trainer Jamie Richards at Sha Tin in December

Closer to home, trainer David McColm has described his All Too Hard stable star Far Too Easy as a “horse of a lifetime” and will set him for the $2million The Kosciuszko (1200m) first-up at Randwick on October 14.

He also has long-range plans for the Group 1 Stradbroke Hcp (1400m) worth $3million at next year’s Brisbane winter carnival.  “Far Too Easy likes to go in fresh instead of backing up every couple of weeks,” McColm said.  “Horses like him just don’t come along all the time and he’s been absolutely super for us.”

Far Too Easy was runner-up in last year’s The Kosciuszko and he was bred and sold by Baramul Stud’s Gerry Harvey at the Gold Coast Magic Millions – just like All Too Hard’s 2022 Stradbroke winner Alligator Blood.

All Too Hard was a phenomenal racehorse in his own right and his success at stud has been reflected at the major yearling sales.  Top-price this year was the Vinery-catalogued filly from Sezanne (More Than Ready) that was purchased by Cambridge Stud for $400,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

His Gold Coast Magic Millions leader was the Cannon Hayes Stud colt from Wahine (Fastnet Rock) that made $275,000 to the bid of Hong Kong-based Denys Chan (Golden River Investments).

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).

This year’s Vinery Stud stallion parades will be on Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th of August, starting at 8:30am on both days.  If you have any questions, please call us on 02 6543 8333.

It is essential to RSVP at: https://vinery.com.au/2023-vinery-stallion-parades/