After falling short thirteen times previously at stakes level, the stars finally aligned for Outrageous in Saturday’s Group III Fujitsu General Festival Stakes at Rosehill Gardens bringing an important pedigree update for his Magic Millions bound half-brother.
Coming off a win over 1400m at Flemington on November 3, the 5yo son of All Too Hard hit the lead halfway down the straight and kept up a strong gallop under Tommy Berry to defeat Royal Celebration (Excelebration) by a half-neck with a further one and a quarter lengths back to Evalina (I Am Invincible) in third.
Trained on the track by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, Outrageous showed plenty of promise at two when breaking his maiden at Newcastle before finishing third behind El Dorado Dreaming and Oohood in the Group 1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes.
He failed to improve on that form at three and four. But he has been racing consistently in the past 12 months.
Purchased by Hawkes Racing for $460,000 out of the Vinery Stud draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Outrageous advances his record to five two four from 29 starts with earnings of $554,980.
“We had him ready to go first-up in Sydney, but it poured that day in Sydney, so we sent him to Melbourne where we found a nice little race over the carnival,” Michael Hawkes said.
“Willie Pike rode him well that day. We brought him back to Sydney for a Group race and Tommy gave him a good ride again.
“The last thing I said to him was to wait until you really have to go for him. He did a bit of work early to get across, but when he came around the corner swinging, I knew it was all over.
“he has taken awhile to come to hand. He was placed in that Group 1 at two and was probably unlucky not to have won it.
“This is another Group winner for All Too hard who just keeps soldiering on.”
A half-brother to the Group III WATC Western Australian Oaks winner Very Tempting, Outrageous is one of three winners from as many to race out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Fit And Ready.
A winner at Canterbury, Fit An Ready is a half-sister to Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Catbird and Group II Pago Pago Stakes winner Danbird,
Fit An Ready has a 2yo colt, named Taborca, and a yearling colt by Snitzel that will be offered by Vinery at Magic Millions as Lot 314 and was covered late last year by I Am Invincible.
Outrageous becomes the 19th stakes-winner for All Too Hard and his fifth this season. Only Written Tycoon, I Am Invincible, and Snitzel have more. That is distinguished company to be keeping.
