All Too Hard has already shown some of the family traits that have made Black Caviar a superstar but the colt won’t be rushed in his two-year-old season.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said there was no pressure from owner Nathan Tinkler to run the champion mare’s half brother in Saturday’s Todman Stakes or the $3.5 million Golden Slipper on Easter Saturday.
The Todman is a qualifying race for the Slipper but All Too Hard’s two wins from two starts place him safely in the field with any decision to be left to the senior member of the training partnership, John Hawkes.
“We’ll just monitor him over the next few days,” Michael Hawkes said.
“The decision on whether he runs will be up to Dad.”
All Too Hard was the sale topper at last year’s Easter Sale at $1.025 million and has earned $212,000 from his two stakes wins so far.
He is on the second line of Slipper betting at $6.50 with Blue Diamond Stakes winner Samaready steady at $4.80.
While excited about the youngster’s prospects, the Hawkes team is also thrilled with the return to racing of an old faithful, Fiumicino.
The eight-year-old finished fourth in Saturday’s Randwick City Stakes (2000m) at his third run back from a two year enforced break due to injury.
“He is an old warhorse,” Michael Hawkes said.
“He is getting his fitness back and the rain helped.
“He won the BMW and that’s the aim again.”
The winner of more than $2.8 million, Fiumicino’s major wins are the 2007 AJC Australian Derby and the 2009 BMW.
He is owned by Nick Moraitis who also races Love Conquers All with the Hawkes stable.
“Love Conquers All will run on Saturday at Rosehill,” Hawkes said.
“He has come back looking unbelievable and is much stronger.”
Love Conquers All has also more than paid his way with stakes earnings in excess of $1.3 million.
His autumn will be aimed at an elusive Group One victory with the five-year-old a half head short in last year’s George Ryder Stakes won by Rangirangdoo before his second to Sacred Choice in the Doncaster Mile.
