In a week when one of racing’s headline acts was ruled out of the spring, another with the potential to light up the carnival will step out on Saturday.
All Too Hard, the half-brother to champion Black Caviar, will make his highly-anticipated seasonal return in the Group Three San Domenico Stakes as a stepping stone to major Group One spring targets.
The Group One Golden Rose (1400m) next month is the valuable colt’s first major aim before attention is likely to be shifted to Melbourne and the Caulfield Guineas.
All Too Hard, trained by the Hawkes family and owned by Nathan Tinkler, is also among nominations for the $3 million Cox Plate which lost its early favourite this week when Atlantic Jewel was ruled out of the carnival through injury.
Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said All Too Hard had done all the right things during his winter break to have the team excited about the spring ahead.
“He’s come back bigger, stronger, better,” Hawkes said.
“He’s more mentally mature and looks like a racehorse.
“Before he looked like a big kid and now he’s like a young adult.
“It’s exciting and we look forward to Saturday.”
The San Domenico Stakes (1100m) only has a small line-up but features not only All Too Hard but Golden Slipper runner-up Snitzerland and Magic Millions winner Driefontein in the six-horse field.
All Too Hard was installed $1.55 favourite with TAB Sportsbet when the market opened on Wednesday but he has since drifted slightly to $1.70 with Snitzerland tightening from $3.20 to $3.
Hawkes said the exciting colt was ready to make his presence felt in his seasonal return.
“He’s forward enough and he’s done everything right,” the co-trainer said.
“He’s going to give a bold sight and is forward enough to win, but whatever he does he’ll improve on.
“We know he’s got a lot of natural ability.”
All Too Hard is the current Golden Rose favourite ahead of triple crown-winning two-year-old Pierro, who inflicted All Too Hard’s only defeat in the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick in April.
Those places are reversed in the Caulfield Guineas market with Pierro holding favouritism ahead of All Too Hard.
Pierro will also be seen at Rosehill on Saturday in an exhibition gallop.
