Hawkes - All Too Hard nearing return

Co-trainer John Hawkes says Caulfield Guineas winner All Too Hard is nearing his first public appearance since his multi-million-dollar sale to Vinery Stud.

Nathan Tinkler’s troubled operation Patinack Farm sold All Too Hard as part of a reported $20 million deal late last year to the Vinery Stud syndicate, which includes Neil Werrett, the managing part-owner of the colt's half-sister Black Caviar.

Hawkes told Melbourne broadcaster Radio Sports National that All Too Hard would have at least one jumpout at Flemington in the coming weeks before he returns to racing at Caulfield in early February.

"In the next couple of weeks he'll have one or two jumpouts and then head to the races,” Hawkes, who trains All Too Hard in partnership with his sons Michael and Wayne, said.

"He'll be ready at the end of the month. Whether that be in the Manfred (Stakes) or the Orr (Stakes), the next couple of weeks will tell.”

All Too Hard beat all but the top Kiwi galloper Ocean Park in the 2012 Cox Plate. Hawkes said he would have no concerns putting the son of Casino Prince up against the older horses again during his autumn campaign.

Hawkes said that policy would probably continue when All Too Hard travels to Sydney for the NSW autumn carnival but he had no specific campaign planned for the valuable galloper at this stage.

"I've always liked to take on the older horses,” Hawkes said. "They're still reasonably well off with their weight and, the older horses, sometimes they're easier to beat than what it is in your own age bracket.”

"Possibly (he'll run) in the Australian Guineas and then we'll head to Sydney. Whether it be the Ranvet (Stakes) or the Ryder (Stakes), those types of races, nothing's set in concrete.

"We're just taking it race by race and if he performs in the first one, we'll just continue to step up the distances and the races depending on how he performs.”

Story: Brad Waters RaceNet