All Too Hard to settle closer in 2013 Futurity Stakes

All Too Hard's jockey Dwayne Dunn says punters should not expect the boom colt to get as far back as he did first-up in Saturday's Group I Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

The Caulfield Guineas winner settled back in the field before running home too well for his rivals to claim the Group I CF Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 9.

Dunn said the racing pattern favoured on-pacers that day, which added merit to All Too Hard's win, but the half-brother to champion sprinter Black Caviarwould be closer to the speed in the Futurity Stakes.

"Hopefully the track is running even on Saturday," Dunn said. "It was a bit difficult the other day, nothing really made any ground and luckily we were in a race that first, second and third came from back in the field.

"He doesn't need to race back there where he did first-up. It's just the way he was leaving the machine. As we saw in the Cox Plate, he can race close and run well.

"I'd expect him to be closer than what he was the other day. From a better barrier, we should be able to find a better spot."

Dunn said All Too Hard would improve greatly on his CF Orr Stakes win. The experienced jockey said the three-year-old was going to win that race easily at the 200 metres but peaked on his run late.

However, the rider said All Too Hard needed to be fitter to cope with the stronger field he will meet in the Futurity Stakes, which includes Melbourne Cup champion Green Moon and Group I performer Lights Of Heaven.

"At the 200 (metres of the CF Orr Stakes), I thought he was going to smash them," Dunn said. "He launched out of the pack but late, he just ran out of petrol. That's why those other horses were able to get so close to him at the finish.

"It's a step up from the other day. The competition is starting to get tougher but his fitness level has picked up nicely and with the nice barrier, he should be more than competitive.

"He's maturing a lot. Mentally, he's handling it really well."

Dunn added All Too Hard would thrive on the seven-day back-up into Saturday week's Group I Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

Bookies think All Too Hard will have little trouble beating his Futurity Stakes rivals, posting him as short as $1.50 in betting on the $500,000 feature.

Story: Brad Waters RaceNet