Commencing his career with an impressive victory in the Listed VRC Talindert Stakes at 2, the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained All Too Hard gelding Hard Kick was sent for a spell, and after disappointing when resuming recently, bounced back with an all the way win in the $200,000 G3 MRC Vain Stakes (1100m) on Saturday.
With punter’s slightly unsure of his chances due to his last start effort, the gelding started on the third line of betting behind G1 Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up Closer To Free with last start $1m VOBIS Platinum Showdown winner Big Wigs also well in the market.
Jockey Damian Lane took Hard Kick straight to the lead from barrier five with Lloyd Kennewell’s Organised Crime, a full-brother to stakes winner and Newgate Farm stallion King’s Gambit settling in second.
Using his sustained speed, Hard Kick cornered full of running, and while he was getting a little tired late, he packed too much punch to defeat Organised Crime who came late to lose out by a narrow margin.
Having placed in the G3 Canonbury Stakes on debut, Chris Waller’s Confederation was having just his third start, coming along the rail to nab third, just ahead of Big Wig who came from second last for fourth, with favourite Closer To Free in fifth.
“It was really good to see him be able to get the result today. He’s a horse we have a very high opinion of and we think he has a very bright future. We can’t wait for the rest of his prep now,” said co-trainer Ben Hayes.
“We had high expectations first-up and he just got it wrong. He was too fresh, he was sweating up, even when he paraded” co-Trainer Ben Hayes said.
“These are some of the more satisfying wins you can have. There’s a lot of hard work that’s gone into getting this horse to win today.
“Today, he was still on his toes but he wasn’t sweating. He was in a lot better mood.
“We took our time with him, we took him back to the trials and gave him a little gear change (adding a tongue tie).
“Damian gets along very well with this horse and it was a 10/10 ride. He got him in a rhythm.
“We wouldn’t hesitate to run him back down the straight (at his next start). There's a lot of options, we’ll have a talk amongst all us boys and work out where to go.
“I hope he can run 1200 metres because the Coolmore is the race he will probably head towards.”
Taking his overall record to two wins, both at black type level, from three starts with $230,800 in earnings, Hard Kick looks an outstanding purchase for connections.
Bred by Macquarie Stud and although he was passed in when offered as a weanling, Hard Kick was sent to the Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale where Middlebrook Valley Lodge offered him with Avesta Bloodstock going to just $30,000 to take him home.
Re-offered at the Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale in the Hannover Lodge draft, he recorded an impressive time of 10.10 seconds and was ultimately purchased by Lindsay Park for $140,000.
Hard Kick is the second winner out of the Exceed And Excel mare Friendly Donna and comes from the family of Group winners Burning Sands and Skoozi Please.
Friendly Donna has not had a foal since Hard Kick, slipping to Cosmic Force the following year before not being covered in 2024.
With the likes of G1 winners Sepoy, Toorak Toff, Starspangledbanner, Russian Revolution, Bivouac, Giga Kick and Cylinder having all won the Vain Stakes in the past, Hard Kick has big shoes to fill, and with his victory now setting him on a path towards the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, he too could secure his own G1 victory.
One of 35 stakes winners for All Too Hard, the Vinery Stud based son of Casino Prince will stand this season at a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST).
