Star colt All Too Hard has ramped up preparations for a late Sydney autumn carnival appearance, winning a jump-out at Flemington on Friday.
Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said All Too Hard did all he was asked to do in winning the 800m jump-out as he prepares for the Group One All Aged Stakes on April 27.
“He had a nice blow as you would expect,” Hawkes told Sydney’s Sky Sports Radio.
“We’re still three weeks from the race. We’ve got a bit more to go yet but we’re on track.”
The three-year-old was scratched on the morning of the Group One Australian Guineas at the start of last month due to an elevated temperature and hasn’t raced since claiming the Futurity Stakes on February 23, the second of his Group One autumn weight-for-age victories.
The half-brother to Black Caviar was given time to get over his “cold” before connections decided to target to the All Aged (1400m) at Randwick on the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival.
Hawkes said All Too Hard was a happy horse heading towards his Sydney assignment.
“We took advantage of the bit of a setback from the Guineas and gave him a bit of a freshen up,” Hawkes said.
“He’s now going to go to the All Aged and if he can do the job there, well then obviously England is on the cards.
“England is not going to be an afterthought. He’s not going to be going as a tired, flat horse.”
Weather in Sydney will determine how long All Too Hard stays in Melbourne before heading north for the All Aged.
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