All Too Hard for Pierro

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes had a simple explanation for All Too Hard’s performance after the colt downed Sydney star Pierro in Saturday’s Group I Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

Pierro had beaten All Too Hard twice in as many meetings after having the better of Black Caviar’s half-brother in the Group I ATC Sires’ Produce in the autumn and Group III Run To The Rose in August.

Hawkes, who trains All Too Hard with his father John and brother Michael, said the son of CasinoPrince’s improved mental attitude was the key to him rolling the hot favourite in the $1 million event.

"It was just he wanted to do it today, it’s as simple as that,” Hawkes said.

"A lot of people are going to read into the Melbourne thing. He’s won three from three down here but I don’t think so. He’s a colt, he jumped cleanly today, he had the barrier blanket on and he wanted to do it.”

All To Hard began well but an early speed battle consigned him to a place at the back of the field while Pierro worked extremely hard up the hill at the back of theCaulfield track after being caught five-wide for the first 400 metres.

Pierro eventually took a trail behind the leader Ashokan before jockey Nash Rawiller attempted to assert the classy colt’s dominance on his opposition early in the straight.

However, Pierro was unable to bury Epaulette and All Too Hard with the latter finding plenty under jockey Dwayne Dunn to end the Gai Waterhouse-trained colt’s eight-race unbeaten run.

Wayne Hawkes thought enough of All Too Hard’s win to elevate the Patinack Farm-owned colt into exalted status, comparing him with the former champion Lonhro, who John Hawkes-trained to win the 2001 Caulfield Guineas for Jack and Bob Ingham.

"This bloke is like Pierro’s dad Lonhro, he is in that class,” Hawkes said.

"I said (earlier this week) if he brought his A-game (he would win) and that’s what he did. Hawkes said. "He’s a serious horse, this horse. He always has been.”

Story: Brad Waters RaceNet

Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos