All Too Hard mares Laffalong and Temptacion are heading for lucrative assignments after their wins in Victoria and Western Australia last week.

Lightly-raced Laffalong earned a start in the $500,000 Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) at Flemington this Thursday when she qualified in the final heat held on Bendigo Cup Day.

And over in the west, Temptacion has several options at the summer carnival including the $400,000 Perth Cup (2400m) after responding to a superb ride by Chris Parnham at Ascot on Saturday.

“Laffalong powered home and we’re looking forward to the rest of the season,” trainer Nigel Blackiston said as Michael Dee brought the 5yo mare back to scale at Bendigo.  “That was her fourth wins in 11 starts and she’s in fine fettle for the Final.”

She was bred and sold by Tyreel Stud for $260,000 at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to the bid of Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay.  Her dam Smiles For Layla (Zabeel) is a sister to Adrift (Light Fingers Stakes Gr.2) and a three-quarter sister to Maldivian (W S Cox Plate Gr.1)

There’s enormous residual value with that pedigree quite apart from the prizemoney on VRC Oaks Day.  And Tyreel’s Linda and Laurence Monds have form with All Too Hard.  They sold the Vinery sire’s Group 1 cult hero Behemoth for $120,000 at the 2016 Inglis Great Southern Foal Sale.

The Lindsays are also on good terms with Vinery.  Their homebred mare Vernazza (More Than Ready) won the 2020 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes Gr.2 and they also bought last year’s Blue Diamond Prelude Gr.2 winner Letzbeglam (Snitzel) for $280,00 from Vinery at the 2019 Gold Coast Magic Millions.

Perth’s autumn form stood up when All Too Hard’s 4yo mare Temptacion stepped out for the final event at Ascot on Saturday.  In the preceding race, Peters Investments homebred Western Empire (Iffraaj), who also has links with Vinery, won the Asian Beau Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m) at his first start since claiming the WATC Derby (Gr.2, 2400m) in April.

Temptacion was runner-up in the classic and she franked that result with a brilliant tactical victory from the tail of the field in the Byron Bay Lager Hcp (1800m).  Chris Parnham caught the others napping when he made lightning move on the corner before letting down to a winning break in the straight.

The victory also completed a treble for trainer Dan Morton following Wilchino (Maschino) and Elite Street (Street Boss) in the Prince Of Wales Stakes Gr.3.  Morton was otherwise engaged at the Blackwood Marathon Relay and his foreman Vince Collica said the stable was very confident going into the race.

“She grows an extra leg at Ascot and getting up to 1800m was also a factor.  She doesn’t go if there’s any moisture in the ground and her first two runs this prep were on a Soft 6 at Belmont.  She was absolutely on her game today and Dan has the Perth Cup in mind.”

Another option on New Year’s Day is the La Trice Classic (Gr.3, 1800m).  It’s the fourth and final leg of the $525,000 Fillies & Mares Series at the Ascot summer carnival.

Temptacion was sold by Vinery (as agent) for $300,000 at the 2019 Gold Coast Magic Millions to a syndicate managed by Nineteenth Hole Racing’s Kerry O’Meara and her partners include Dawson Stud owner Graham Daws.

First-dam Fit And Ready (More Than Ready) has also foaled All Too Hard’s ATC Festival Stakes Gr.3 winner Outrageous and Vinery sold her Snitzel colt to Aquis Farm for $600,000 at this year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions.  Named Wicked Games, he is in work with Annabel Neasham at Warwick Farm.

All Too Hard stands for a $33,000 (inc GST) service fee at Vinery.  For bookings or further information, please contact Adam White (0414 800 918) or Harry Roach (0401 970 006).

Hoofnote:  Western Empire’s second-dam Our Millster (Marooned) is owned by Vinery.  She foaled 2011 Perth Cup winner Western Jewel (Jeune) and her latest is a yearling filly by Star Turn.