The $400,000 Singapore Derby Sng G1 (1800m) at Kranji on Sunday was won by All Too Hard gelding Hard Too Think, who scored a surprise win over Hallowed Crown gelding Big Hearted.
The Stephen Gray trained four year-old was stepping up in grade and regarded pre-race by most pundits as a dark horse who could maybe steal a place, but in the end he stole the show, powering clear to win by a length at 40-1.
“It feels surreal. I’m actually quite sad,” said an emotional Stephen Gray, who won the Derby back in 2007 with Lim’s Prestige.
“When I looked up to the stands as I headed down, I shook my head and had a bit of a tear. More people should get vaccinated, and hopefully, the crowds can then be allowed back in.
“It’s a different emotion this year even if I have won my second Derby – I’m emotional and tired at the same time.
“Since COVID-19 came back, it’s been a bit tough. It’s so hard, our business is depleted, not just for me, but all the trainers have been hit hard.
“It’s been hard on our minds. We try to hang in there, every trainer wants to win it, but it just so happened I’m the one who won it.
“When I won the race for the Lim’s Stable in 2007, it was a game changer, it changed my life, but today I’ve won the second one at a time when our livelihood is at stake.”
Hard Too Think was a $45,000 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale purchase from the Baramul Stud draft and has four wins and three placings from 11 starts.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, Hard Too Think is the best of three winners from Mnemonic, an unraced Hussonet (USA) mare from the family of Group I winner and sire Jetball and Group II winner Into the Night.
Mnemonic has a weanling colt by All Too Hard and is in foal to Star Turn.
Hard Too Think is the 22nd stakes-winner for All Too Hard, who has had a great season siring 137 Australian winners of more than $9.8million with his winners including five stakes-winners headed by Group I winners Behemoth and Forbidden Love not to mention a Group I winner in Hong Kong in Wellington.
Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard is great value this spring at a fee of $33,000.
