The numbers added up for Hard Squeeze and her sire All Too Hard when she won the Ive Hcp (2100m) on a Heavy 8 at Sandown on Wednesday.
Melbourne’s south-east suburban track is like a home away from home for the Cranbourne mare with three of her last four city victories coming at 2100m around the Lakeside circuit. The latest was the 1,600th win for the Vinery stallion and it sent her earnings past $300,000.
Hard Squeeze was ridden by Thomas Stockdale in the Swettenham Stud silks and was always in a rhythm despite travelling wide with cover. “She relished the sting out of the ground and felt comfortable,” he said. “She’s doesn’t like hustle and bustle and tracked into it nicely before finding another gear. She skips across the ground and treated it like a Good 3.”
Bred by Gilgai Farm and secured by trainers Robbie Griffiths and Mat De Kock for $80,000 at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Hard Squeeze is by Vinery sire All Too Hard out of the unraced Encosta de Lago mare Exsqueeze Me who has also foaled the black-type performer Namimo (Choisir).
The All Too Hard – Encosta de Lago cross has generated 18 winners at a 70% strike-rate headed by the one and only Alligator Blood. Her second-dam Juice (Bertolini) was a Group 1 winner of the NZ Bloodstock Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha in 2020.
“She loves this track and the conditions,” De Kock said. “I thought she may have shown the white flag after such a tough run out wide. She hit the front early and we shouldn’t have been surprised when she refused to lie down.
“Going forward, I don’t think there will be any arguments with the owners who are a great bunch. We will just look at the calendar and nominate for another Sandown Lakeside race over 2100m!”
All Too Hard sired his newest maiden winner when Wichitall landed in the box seat after jumping from an outside gate at Geelong on Friday. The race was done and dusted once he crossed to sit one-out and one-back for Blake Shinn in the Passportcard Travel Insurance Plate (1230m).
“It was smooth sailing from there and the horse did the rest,” Shinn said. “He’s had his hoof on the till and that was his most promising run to date. Symon (Wilde) was confident and there’s more wins in store if he lengthens and keeps going straight like today.”
Wichitall, trained by Symon Wilde, was bred and sold by a Rupert Legh partnership through Blue Gum Farm (as agent) for $80,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. His dam Wichita Woman (High Chaparral) is a half-sister to Galizani (Galileo) who won Sydney Listed events in the City Tatts Cup (2400m) and Epona Stakes (1900m) for trainer John Thompson.
All Too Hard had kicked off the winning week last Saturday with Hard Prince in the Kingsford Hotel Hcp (1500m) at Gawler. It was his sixth start for trainers Richard & Chantelle Jolly and he hasn’t finished out of the top 4 since switching stables in January.
Hard Prince won it on protest after jockey Jake Toeroek alleged interference in the straight by Maxildo (Fiorente). Stewards reported Hard Prince was brushed at the 70m and then contacted and taken off its course by that horse until the finish of the event.
He was bred and sold by Baramul Stud and is the sole foal from Palais De Louvre (Smart Missile) who descends from NZ-bred mare (My) Blue Denim who was a Group 1 winner of the 1981 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and STC Tancred Stakes (2400m).
All Too Hard has been among Australia’s Top 10 Sires by either winners or earnings every year since 2019 and this year is no different. He stands for an unchanged $38,500 at Vinery Stud this year. All service fees include GST and are payable on a live foal. For bookings or further information contact Adam, Harry, McKoy or Peter on (02) 6543 8333.
This year’s Vinery Open Days are on Saturday 24 August and Sunday 25 August. Gates open at 8:30am and the stallions start parading at 9am. It is mandatory to register for this event so please contact McKoy on (02) 6543 8333 or mckoy@vinery.com.au
