Australia’s top-ranked racehorse All Too Hard could be a surprise runner in Saturday week’s Scone Guineas.
The colt’s co-trainer Wayne Hawkes threw the $500,000 race into the mix on Saturday, suggesting the Group One Doomben Cup, which is run on the same day would also be considered.
The feature event at the NSW Hunter Valley track is just one option open to the Hawkes team as a lead-up to the trip to Royal Ascot that has long been mooted as part of All Too Hard’s program.
“What I really wish for is a Group One mile race next Saturday,” Wayne Hawkes said.
The trip to England is viewed as an essential part of All Too Hard’s bid to establish himself as an international stallion prospect.
But Hawkes said All Too Hard didn’t need to follow his half-sister Black Caviar to Royal Ascot to enhance his already impressive CV.
“He doesn’t have to go and win in England. Black Caviar did that for him,” he said.
“Does he have to do any more?”
Hawkes said a number of big European and American studs had already expressed interest in standing All Too Hard.
The Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) at the Royal meeting in June shapes as the most suitable race for All Too Hard, but Hawkes said there wasn’t a race that would be beyond the colt.
“He could do whatever we wanted him to do,” he said.
