Vinery Stud stalwart All Too Hard is having a good season with his juveniles and produced a promising debut winner at Randwick on Saturday with Why So Hard arriving on the line to salute.
Trained by Team Hawkes, Why So Hard had two strong trial wins last month under his belt and took that good form forward to race day with Tyler Schiller in the saddle.
Ridden patiently from a wide gate, Why So Hard settled back in the field and accelerated hard late to win by a long neck.
Why So Hard was a $140,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Vinery Stud draft for Hawkes Racing and runs for an ownership group of stable clients including Frank and Christine Cook in whose colours he runs.
John Hawkes trained his sire All Too Hard and his dam sire Lonhro, so it’s not hard to see why this youngster was so appealing, and in physical appearance he has much in common with his sire.
“We bought him at the sales and just loved him. We've just got some really good people and clients in the horse,” said Michael Hawkes.
“He's been a work in progress. His trials have been fantastic, but the barrier was a little bit of a concern. I thought if he drew 1-5, he'd genuinely just win, but drawing a bit awkward, we were going to have to be a little bit conservative.
“There was a bit of speed in the race. Tyler just gave him a gun ride, he got cover, presented on the corner… the best part I love is the horse has got so much ability as far as learning— he doesn't really know what he's doing yet— and the last 50m was probably the best.
“These owners are going to be in for a nice ride for the future.”
Why So Hard is the seventh 2YO winner this season for All Too Hard and they include Group III winner Music Time, who was third in the Golden Slipper, and Hard Kick, who won the Listed VRC Talindert on debut and has not raced since.
He is the third winner from four foals to race from Lonyx, a winning half-sister by Lonhro to Group III winner Sexy Eyes and stakes-winner Tina Melina.
Vinery Stud sold a yearling colt by Ole Kirk from Lonyx at Inglis Easter this year for $260,000 to Roll The Dice Racing / Rogers Bloodstock / MG Price Racing & Breeding and she has another colt to follow by the same sire and is back in foal to him again.
