First-up specialist All Too Royal has weathered a wide passage to post his first black-type victory in the Christmas Stakes LR at Caulfield.

The Boxing Day sprint improved his record to 8 wins in 16 starts and it also provided Vinery sire All Too Hard with his 13th individual stakes winner.

All Too Royal is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and his only first-up loss was a debut fourth to subsequent Flemington 2yo stakes winner Ducimus at Ballarat in January 2017.

“He has got a great record fresh but I was a little bit worried when he had a good sweat before the race,” jockey Jye McNeil said.  “Things didn’t work out in the run, either.  I was left wide without cover so I just kept him balanced and in a good rhythm.

“We did get a nice cart into the race around the corner and he unleashed a great finish.”

Racing for a syndicate managed by Vinery, All Too Royal is from Bel Mer (Bel Esprit) who won a Robert Sangster Stakes Gr.1 in Vinery colours before making $1,050,000 as a broodmare prospect to Goldin Farms.

Vinery went back and bought All Too Royal for $270,000 at the 2016 Inglis Easter Sale and he’s paid that back with earnings over $350,000.

Strong support saw him start a $4.60 second favourite behind Ef Troop at Caulfield.  “Ciaron and David aren’t here but they were very confident,” stable rep Will Bourne said.  “He loves the beach and goes so well fresh, especially at 1200m.  Hopefully, he can go right on with it this prep.”

Vinery has catalogued three All Too Hard colts (as agent) for the Gold Magic Millions Yearling Sale starting on Day 2 with Lot 405, the half-brother to stakes winners Aspect (Maribyrnong Plate Gr.3) and Brown Ben (Tokyo City Cup LR).

Lot 581 is the colt from Karrakatta Plate winner Night War (General Nediym) who has already thrown All Too Hard winners Messerschmitt, Night Flyer and Allied Power.  She is a half-sister to Blue Diamond Stakes Gr.1 winner Samaready and the family added more black-type this year through her daughter Exhilarates in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic RL and Quezette Stakes Gr.3.

All Too Hard has the first foal of Snitzel black-type performer Spoils parading as Lot 800 on Day 4 of Book 1 at the Magic Millions.  Owned by Vinery partner Steve McCann, Spoils was stakes placed at Caulfield and Morphettville and her latest foal is a Press Statement filly born in October.