Untapped mare Too Good Too Hard will be elevated to black-type company on the back of a soft win at the Mornington meeting that clashed with the AFL Grand-Final on Saturday.
The Big Screen Company Hcp (1200m) was the third strike in five starts for the consistent daughter of All Too Hard after a winning debut at Sale in May. Settled in the box by Luke Nolen, she angled wide on the corner for enough galloping room to race away in the straight.
“The owners are actually at the MCG but they’ve been very patient,” trainer Phillip Stokes said. “She had surgery for a chipped fetlock before racing and we’ve just been putting her through the grades. She’s got a great turn of foot and we’re just contemplating whether to keep her at 1200m or step up to 1400m.
“I really like what I’ve seen. She’s come a long way in a short time and there are better wins ahead in Stakes company.”
Too Good Too Hard (4m All Too Hard – The Good Wife by Redoute’s Choice) was a $120,000 buy from Mill Park Stud at the 2017 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. Her dam is a half-sister to multiple Group 1-winning mare Divine Madonna.
Stokes said he will talk to connections before making an immediate plan but there are any number of routes for a sprinting mare at this time of the year in Melbourne. Among them are the Northwood Plume Stakes Gr.3 and Tristarc Stakes Gr.2 at the Caulfield carnival while the Black Pearl Stakes LR is another alternative at Geelong on October 23.
They could also opt for the first Tuesday in November at Flemington. The Maybe Mahal Stakes Gr.3 over 1400m looks tailor-made on the biggest day of the racing year in Australia.
“She’s uncomplicated and I thought she was the best mare in the race,” winning jockey Luke Nolen said. “I got a lovely trail behind Dwayne Dunn (Miss Entice) but decided to take luck out of the running and come off heels before the home turn.
“That win was very encouraging. She’s a quality mare and will definitely measure up to black-type in the autumn. She may even sneak one this prep.”
Like Tarka (Stan Fox Stakes Gr.2) and Behemoth (Penny Edition Stakes LR), Too Good Too Hard comes from All Too Hard’s second crop and he’s currently serving for a $27,500 (inc. GST) fee at Vinery.
