Cuba has joined the growing queue of black-type winners by All Too Hard with a fighting victory in the National Sprint LR in Canberra.
The John Thompson-trained gelding was under siege in the straight but sustained a strong gallop to defeat Sir Bacchus by a half-length over 1400m on Sunday.
Cuba is the 16th career Stakes winner by All Too Hard. The Vinery Champion is flying this season with 8 Stakes winners in Australia which puts him in equal third-place behind Snitzel (11) and I Am Invincible (10).
“All credit to Cuba,” stable manager Danielle Podlewski said after the capital’s feature sprint of the season. “I was a bit worried when the others ranged up in the straight but he was too tough.
“It was a very smart ride by Tim (Clark). He took a sit instead of taking on the leader. That might have brought him undone because he’s a horse that needs to work through the gears.”
Cuba (5g All Too Hard – Tabasco Kitten by Redoute’s Choice) cost $250,000 from the Kitchwin Hills draft to the 2016 Gold Coast Magic Millions. The National Sprint improved his record to 7 wins in 30 starts and his bank-balance to $391,540 for the Joy Luck Syndicate.
He’s one of three winners from three foals out of Gerald Ryan’s Hawkesbury winner Tabasco Kitten who is a half-sister to Alizes (Magic Night Stakes Gr.2). Second-dam La Baraka won The Galaxy Gr.1 in 1998 and third-dam Triscay was Australia’s Champion 2YO and 3YO Filly in 1990-91.
Cuba kept the All Too Hard bandwagon rolling ahead of Alligator Blood’s grand-final in the rich All-Star Mile at Caulfield next Saturday. The Queenslander is a $2.80 pre-post favourite and winning prizemoney would take his sire close to $10million in progeny earnings this season.
All Too Hard has 11 yearlings catalogued for the Adelaide Magic Millions starting on Tuesday and another two of his colts have been entered for the Gold Coast March Magic Millions next week.
