The Group II MRC Sandown Guineas (1600m) on Saturday lost the favourite Aysar, when he was scratched earlier in the day due to a mishap in the tie up stalls, but the race produced a battle royal between two talented three year-olds in All Too Hard gelding Allibor and Deep Field filly Sweet Reply with a head separating them at the finish.
At the post, it was the Symon Wilde trained Allibor who had the edge, casting off maiden status with a determined half-head win under Dean Yendall.
Second at his first two runs at the provincials, Allibor showed the potential of better things to come when finishing fourth last Saturday in a Listed race won by Shelby Cobra.
He relished the quick back up and addition of blinkers to score a valuable Black Type victory taking his overall earnings in excess of $170,000.
“It’s a long straight and he needed every inch of it and we’re just so proud of the horse and our team, it was a huge thrill,” said stable representative Liam Hoy.
A $60,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the draft of Blue Gum Farm for Wilde Racing Pty Ltd / Cameron Cooke Bloodstock, Allibor was re-offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale but failed to make his $100,000 reserve.
Allibor was bred by T J S Bloodstock, Heritage Bloodstock, Vic and is the best of four winners from Libor Lady (USA), an imported stakes-winner by Exchange Rate.
Libor Lady has changed hands on a number of occasions and is now in the ownership of Victorian owner/ breeder and trainer David Brideoake.
She has a yearling filly by Good Journey (USA) and produced a colt this spring by Written Tycoon that is now going to be worth some serious money as a half-brother to a Group II winner!
Allibor is the 18th stakes-winner for Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard, who stands at a fee of $27,500.
