After having all in the racing world buzzing at the thought of a showdown with superstar filly Samaready in the Golden Slipper, the much-hyped All Too Hard has been ruled out of the $3.5 million event.

All Too Hard will not run in the Golden Slipper - photo (c) Steven Dowden

Trainer John Hawkes this morning confirmed the unbeaten juvenile will instead run in next weekend’s Sires’ Produce Stakes.

It will be the source of much disappointment in the racing community after the half brother of Black Caviar was backed into favourite for the glamour event after cantering to an easy one-length victory in the Pago Pago Stakes on Saturday.

Saturday’s race was almost like a barrier trial for the sensational horse who also cruised to victory on debut in the Talindert Stakes before dominating the field by four lengths in the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Worth an estimated $15 million at current status, All Too Hard’s withdrawal has seen Samaready reinstated as short-priced favourite to take top honours in Saturday’s prized two-year-old race.

The decision not to run this weekend was made in conjunction with the rest of the Hawkes training team that includes sons Wayne and Michael as well as owner Nathan Tinkler.

John Hawkes said this morning it was tempting to enter the star colt but was confident the team had made the right decision.

“Golden Slippers are very, very tough races. There’s a lot of aggression and thrashing and bashing,” he said.

“In some ways I wish he was running. If he had run and won it would be a real fairytale but things can always work the wrong way.”

Hawkes confirmed the decision was made with the blessing of the high profile mining magnate owner.

“The bottom line is the owner is happy with the decision we made,” Hawkes said.