All Too Hard’s 2yo colt Rock Hard will travel to Adelaide for a black-type assignment after keeping a clean-sheet for trainer Byron Cozamanis at Bendigo.
Following a successful debut at Seymour last month, Rock Hard made every post a winner in the Jayco Hcp (1000m) on Tuesday. He clocked a quick 58.20s for a comprehensive victory over Aristia (Lonhro) and Chicago Cub (Zoustar).
“We weren’t going to race him as a 2yo but he was going that good we had to have a shot,” Cozamanis said. “I didn’t think he would lead today and he should end up getting a mile being by All Too Hard. We will sit down this week and look for a race during the Adelaide carnival.”
Feature juvenile races at Morphettville in May include the Queen Adelaide Stakes LR, SA Sires’ Produce Stakes Gr.3 and National Stakes Gr.3.
Cozamanis inspected Rock Hard with agent Cameron Cooke as a yearling at Kia-Ora Stud and bought him for $80,000 at the 2017 Gold Coast Magic Millions. He’s the second winner for the Mick Price-trained Caulfield stakes performer Rock Of Fortune (Fastnet Rock).
The mare’s first winner Star Of Africa (More Than Ready) was exported to Hong Kong after powering home for victories at Canterbury and Warwick Farm earlier this season. Her All Too Hard yearling is with Team Corstens and she foaled an All Too Hard filly in August.
“He did a few things wrong first-up and took a lot out of that win,” jockey Chris Caserta claimed. “He wandered about at Seymour but let down beautifully today. He’s a nice horse and I want to stay with him in Adelaide.”
Rock Hard is one of 6 individual 2yo winners by All Too Hard this season. Team Corstens can win another juvenile race for the Vinery sire with Illuminaire in the Redoute’s Choice Stakes LR at Caulfield this Saturday.
All Too Hard will stand for a $33,000 (inc gst) fee at Vinery this year.
