All Too Hard sired the first stakes-winner at Flemington on Saturday in Hard Kick and was then sire of the dam of the second when exciting three year-old So You Think filly Sass Appeal led her rivals a merry dance to win the Listed VRC Desirable Stakes (1400m).
Sent out favourite for her first attempt at Black Type, it was expected race fitness and a pull in the weights may give her the edge over Group I MRC Thousand Guineas winner Ole Dancer, who was resuming from a spell.
That proved the case with the Danny O’Brien trained Sass Appeal coasting along in the lead for Damian Lane and then giving a good kick to forge clear and win by more than two lengths over Ole Dancer, who powered home for second.
“She stepped a touch awkward and then she hits her stride quickly. The thing about her is she switches off completely in front. I was able to go really steady through the first part and then steadily build as we got into the race,” said Lane.
“From the 600 (metres) I made sure we quickened up and made it hard for the ones chasing.
"She's putting together a good record and 1600 (metres) will be no problem. Hopefully there's some nice races ahead of her."
Sass Appeal made her debut with a second at Sandown on December 10 and has won all three starts since then earning $222,600 and Danny O’Brien is looking to give her one more run for this preparation.
“It was a straightforward map for her there today. She looked to get an unchallenged lead, and that's what happened,” said Danny O’Brien.
"I think we'll go to the Kewney (G2 1600m). It's a big step to take on those horses that are seasoned (in the G1 Australian Guineas) up over the spring and the colts are a decent division with Observer looking top class.
“Unless something happened, I think the more sensible thing is to wait three weeks and stay in fillies grade and run here in the Kewney Stakes."
"We've got a lot of hope that she can go to a very high level in the spring. She's been well protected by us so far and she's had a good build-up. I would expect the Kewney to be her last run and then we can hopefully get her to a really good race in the spring, something like the Myer (G1 1600m) on Derby Day."
A $120,000 Inglis Premier purchase from Vinery Stud for her trainer, Sass Appeal runs for a big group of stable clients and is the best of three winners from three to race from Group III placed Cristal Eyes, a half-sister by All Too Hard to Group III winner Flying Evelyn.
Third dam is Group I Coolmore Classic winner Bollinger and fourth dam Golden Slipper winner Bint Marscay, so Sass Appeal is a filly with a big pedigree!
Cristal Eyes produced a colt by Ole Kirk last spring before going to Exceedance.
Sass Appeal is the 67th stakes-winner for much missed Coolmore favourite So You Think.
