Seven talented 3-year-olds accepted for Wednesday's All Too Hard @ Vinery Stud Hcp (1300m) at Warwick Farm, and it had a promising winner with the lone colt in the race, Private Life.
The Chris Waller-trained son of Written Tycoon needed to overcome traffic problems under top weight to defeat the Justify (USA) filly Lilac by a long-neck, with the Snitzel filly Declichy Boulevard back in third.
Private Life finished fourth on debut at Canterbury on May 1 when a sensationally backed favourite. He showed he had benefited from the experience when winning a $100,000 super maiden over 1100m at Warwick Farm at his most recent start on May 22.
"The team has a big opinion of him. He showed what he was made of and learnt something by it," winning rider Nash Rawiller said.
"It was a technical race with no early speed. At one stage, I was going to lead the Jase (Collett) took it up, and I had Chad (Schofield) outside me. It was an exciting race to be a part of, and I was lucky to have a horse with a V8 motor."
"He had to deal with a bit of traffic in running and check off heels," Charlie Duckworth said.
"He has run a smart time and was tested to do it, but he will strip fitter and come on for it.
'He is a beautifully bred 3-year-old colt and will make his presence felt over the spring carnival.
"We have to plot a path. He had a big weight there, so we will take the win, and I'm sure Chris will devise a plan."
Raced by some of the biggest names in breeding, Private Life was a $650,000 purchase for Tom Magnier from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the fifth winner from as many to race for the high-class Snitzel mare Aliyana Tilde, who won the Group ATC III Epona Stakes and placed in the Group 1 Australian Oaks, Group 1 ATC Sydney Cup, and Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes.
Purchased by Kerry Parker for $50,000 at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Aliyana Tilde is a half-sister to Group III winner Teaspoon and a half-sister to Group III winner Smytzer's Trish (dam of Swish Trish), and Listed winner Stella Artois (dam of Freestyle and granddam of The Astrologist).
After missing in 2021 and 2022, Aliyana Tilde was covered by Admire Mars (JPN) last spring.
