Perth owner Ray Meadowcroft had a foot in both camps when All Too Hard sired a winning double in WA and Victoria on Wednesday.
He cheered home 3yo filly Fine Scent as her rivals chased shadows in the Lane Ford Hcp (1200m) at Pinjarra. An hour later Messerschmitt, a son of Meadowcroft’s former top-class filly Night War, won the Medical Edge Maiden (1100m) at Ballarat.
Messerschmitt is trained by Anthony Freedman and was racing first-up following an unlucky fourth in the Debutant Stakes-LR at Caulfield in October. He settled on the speed and did best in a duel with Lindsay Park colt Ben Hercules (I Am Invincible).
“Anthony told me to get some cover but I had to go to Plan B when he flew the gates,” jockey Jamis Winks said. “He should have put them away and won by more but he floated and looked around in the straight.
“It was a good race on paper and the form should hold up.”
Messerschmitt is the first 2yo winner by All Too Hard this season. He cost Freedman and a syndicate managed by John O’Neill $140,000 when offered by Vinery at the 2017 Inglis Melbourne Premier.
The Ballarat result was also a breakthrough for his dam Night War. She is the first mare to deliver two individual winners by All Too Hard following Allied Power who was credited with a Gosford maiden for China Horse Club last year.
Meadowcroft and former AFL star Peter Bell bought Night War as a yearling for $90,000 at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions. Bred and sold by Baramul Stud’s Gerry Harvey, she was trained by Simon Miller to win the Karrakatta Plate Gr.2 and Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic-Gr.3.
Night War (General Nediym) is a half-sister to Group 1 winning filly Samaready (More Than Ready) and the Perth partners sold her to Vinery for $350,000 at the 2012 Inglis Bloodstock Sale.
Her third All Too Hard foal is a filly that’s been catalogued as Lot 547 by Vinery for the Inglis Melbourne Premier at Oaklands on Tuesday, March 6.
Meadowcroft spent some of Night War’s proceeds at the 2016 Gold Coast Magic Millions with a $210,00 bid for the All Too Hard – Patou filly offered by Baramul.
Named Fine Scent, she was placed three times in Belmont nurseries before being put away for some spring sunshine. Miller sent her to the provincials for an easy kill first-up and they will return to Pinjarra for the Magic Millions 3YO Trophy RL on February 10.
Fine Scent is another filly with enormous residual value for Meadowcroft being a half-sister to 2003 Golden Slipper Stakes Gr.1 winner Polar Success.
The Perth Magic Millions on February 19 has one All Too Hard in the catalogue – Yarradale Stud’s filly from 2010 Karrakatta Plate runner-up Keeper Quiet (Lot 89).
All Too Hard has sired 7 individual winners this month that could well rise into double figures during the Australia Day long-weekend starting in New Zealand with his class colt Demonetization at Pukekohe on Friday.
