As Black Caviar made her way back to Melbourne after thrilling Sydney racegoers with her win in Saturday’s TJ Smith Stakes, her half brother All Too Hard travelled in the opposite direction to resume his autumn campaign.
The star colt was ruled out of last month’s Australian Guineas with a temperature after claiming Group One wins in the weight-for-age C F Orr Stakes and the Futurity Stakes.
He arrived in Sydney on Monday and is scheduled to have a barrier trial on Friday then run in the All Aged Stakes (1400m) on Saturday week.
The All Aged is one of four Group One races on the final day of the Randwick carnival with his fellow three-year-old stars Pierro and It’s A Dundeel possibly contesting the weight-for-age Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
It’s A Dundeel completed Sydney’s three-year-old triple crown with an easy victory in Saturday’s Australian Derby.
Pierro is favourite for this week’s Doncaster Mile as he bids to extend his unbeaten Sydney record to 11.
In 13 starts, the Gai Waterhouse-trained colt has been beaten twice, in the Caulfield Guineas by All Too Hard and the Cox Plate where he ran third to Ocean Park and All Too Hard.
While it seems more and more likely Black Caviar will not go to Royal Ascot this year, there is still a possibility All Too Hard could make the trip depending on his All Aged performance.
He is likely to be retired to Vinery Stud in the spring.
The colt is trained by the Hawkes partnership of Hall of Fame trainer John and his sons Michael and Wayne.
The Hawkes team has also been named to train the $5 million Redoute’s Choice half brother to Black Caviar and All Too Hard bought by BC3 Thoroughbreds at last week’s Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
