The Hawkes Racing Team will decide over the weekend if there new stable star All Too Hard will take his place in the Golden Slipper after scoring an easy win at Rosehill today.
All Too Hard scored an easy win in the Pago Page Stakes at Rosehill Gardens - photo (c) Steve Hart
Jockey Dwayne Dunn eased the half brother to Black Caviar down on the line to score a very comfortable win over Narcissus and Limes in the Group 2 $175,000 Bowermans Office Furniture Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).
All Too Hard jumped with the field but Dunn eased him back to second last and stayed clear of trouble before starting a move at the 600m on the $1.32 favourite.
Dunn let the two year old gather in the leaders at the 350m and once All Too Hard had the field covered, he eased down to record a very easy win.
Hawkes Team representative Michael Hawkes said that a decision on a start in the Group 1 $3.5m AAMI Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill next week would be made after the weekend but a start is highly likely.
“He jumped okay and he got back. We left it up to Dwayne and how ever it panned out. He was on the best horse and ride him like it is,” Hawkes said.
“He didn’t panic, he just nursed him around the corner. When he got up outside he said let’s go, gave him a couple of slaps. He was eased down and it was an easy win in the end.”
“There’s going to be a million questions come Saturday. But we will get over today first and see how he pulls up and assess from there,” Hawkes said.
Dunn couldn’t say enough good about All Too Hard but would not put any pressure on connections towards a start next week.
“He was the best hose in the race, I just let him cruise around them as he did. He’s just got that nice killer punch when you want to put him away,” Dunn said.
“They’ve got their own agenda and own plan and I’m just happy to turn up and ride him in which ever race they want to run him in.”
All Too Hard made it three wins from three starts after winning on debut at Flemington on February 18 then took out the Group 2 $250,000 Henry Bucks Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on March 10.
