Demonetization has opened a $3.30 favourite with the NZ TAB to maintain his unbeaten record in the Trevor Eagle Memorial-LR (1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The All Too Hard colt has won both his starts at Pukekohe & Tauranga and will have a short break next week before launching his NZ Derby-Gr.1 campaign in the New Year.

“He’s got a bit going for him, being by a top horse from Zabeel mare,” trainer Nigel Tiley said earlier this week.  “He’s done well since he won at Tauranga and I’m eager to step him up to 1500m.

“He’s pretty exciting – the main aim is the NZ Derby in March.  He will come back and probably start off in the Great Northern Guineas.”

Demonetization was bred by Bob and Sandra Peters and is a younger half-brother to their Ascot stakes winner Neverland (Big Brown).  She was beaten less than a length by Delicacy in last year’s Perth Cup-Gr.2 (2400m).

The Perth couple sold him as a foal for $65,000 in Sydney.  He was pin-hooked for $160,000 at the 2016 Karaka Yearling Sale and Auckland-based owner Narendra Balia paid $220,000 for him at the 2016 Karaka 2YO Sale.

Curdled is another son of Vinery sire All Too Hard beginning his quest for feature races on Saturday.  The Peter Robl-trained gelding will shoulder 61kg first-up in the ATC Membership Hcp (1200m) at Rosehill.

A Segenhoe Stud homebred, his dam Custard (Lonhro) won an Oaklands Plate-LR for Lindsay Park and her earlier foals include Caulfield Group 3 winner Serene Majesty.

Curdled was the first stakes winner by All Too Hard when successful in the Winning Edge Stakes-LR at Doomben in June.  “He’s always shown us good ability from Day 1,” Robl revealed.  “We have a good opinion of him although they may be a bit sharp on Saturday.  He’s only had one barrier trial and we’ve deliberately left him a bit on the fresh side.”

Curdled will head to Queensland later this month for a final hit-out in Brisbane leading up to the $2 million Magic Millions 3YO Guineas-RL (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January.