All Too Hard topped the Vinery yearlings consigned to the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale this week with a filly that was knocked down for $240,000.
Bred for speed, she is the first foal of the Tony McEvoy-trained filly Piacenza (Denman) who was placed in a Debutant Stakes LR at Caulfield as was her second-dam Pachanga (Redoute’s Choice).
Agent Justin Bahen bought her on behalf of trainer Mick Price after getting the better of McEvoy at Oaklands. “She’s a cracking filly,” Bahen said of Lot 12. “She’s been bought for a great crew of owners with Mick.”
Hong Kong-based Upper Bloodstock returned to the Premier Sale to buy another All Too Hard – this year they paid $150,000 for the colt from Sacha Royale (Lot 125). He is a half-brother to SAJC Fillies Classic Gr.3 winner Ana Royale.
Upper Bloodstock bought All Too Hard colt Jomo from Vinery for $100,000 at the 2016 Melbourne Premier. Jomo won trials at Kembla (2 lengths) and Gosford (6 lengths) for Bjorn Baker in February and connections are looking forward to his debut.
“All Too Hard did a lot of his racing in Melbourne and is very popular down here,” Vinery’s Adam White explained. “Inglis Easter is obviously our main focus but we’ve had some very good horses graduate from the Premier Sale. We sold all 10 lots at Oaklands last year and 9 out of 10 this week.”
NZ nursery Blandford Lodge was also happy with its All Too Hard – Mary d’Or colt that sold to South Africa’s Form Bloodstock for $180,000. He’s a half-brother to Macau stakes performer Sunshine Mighty.
All Too Hard can continue his winning run in Melbourne this Saturday with Outrageous and Titan Blinders in the Victorian Sires’ Produce Stakes Gr.2 at Flemington.
Team Hawkes trained All Too Hard to a four-length victory in the 2012 Sires’ Produce Stakes and his colt Outrageous has been installed a $5 pre-post favourite with the TAB this year.
Outrageous started odds-on to break his maiden at Newcastle last month and he impressed Dwayne Dunn despite the narrow winning margin. “I just let him get into a rhythm before sprinting home. He’s not sharp enough for the Golden Slipper but he hits the line strong and is right in a race like the Sires’ Produce.”
Titan Blinders is prepared by Leon & Troy Corstens and will be all the better for a close second to Shadwell Estates filly Nasaayim at Caulfield last month.
Jockey Luke Nolen believes All Too Hard colt Villermont will also improve off his fourth in the Australian Guineas Gr.1 at Flemington last Saturday. “It was a terrific run and he will appreciate further now,” Nolen said. “He blew a bit and will be competitive on the back of that effort in the Rosehill Guineas.”
