All Too Hard steps it up on Friday

All Too Hard, the highly touted half-brother to Australian superstar Black Caviar, will make his first public three-year-old appearance in a Rosehill barrier trial on Friday.

The Hawkes Racing-trained colt will step out in a top class 900-metre heat that includes Golden Slipperplacegetter Snitzerland and the Gerald Ryan-trained galloper’s stablemates Cavalry Rose, Villa Splendido and Assassinate.

Hawkes Racing co-trainer Michael Hawkes said All Too Hard has "grown up and matured” ahead of his upcoming preparation. Rodney Quinn will ride the son of Casino Prince in the trial.

" We just want to step him out. The horse is great but we’ll get through Friday, see how he goes and see how he pulls up, then worry about where he kicks off,” Hawkes said.

The Rosehill-based co-trainer said "there are a lot of options for him”, noting races like the Group I Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas as logical targets.

"Dad and Nathan [Tinkler] will discuss which path he takes but as has been the case in the past it will be whatever is in the horse’s best interests,” he said.

"There are exciting times ahead. He has untapped potential and potentially the sky's the limit."

All Too Hard had four starts as a two-year-old. He won three times, including victories in the Group II VRC Sires' Produce and Pago Pago Stakes before beating all but Pierro in the Group I Sires' Produce Stakes at Randwick in April.

Story: Clinton Payne RaceNet