Black Caviar’s little brother All Too Hard has rocketed into equal favouritism for next week’s $3.5 million Golden Slipper after making his Rosehill debut look all too easy.
TAB Sportsbet firmed the colt from $5 to $3 with Blue Diamond Stakes winner Samaready easing from $2.50.
A Casino Prince half-brother to the champion mare out of Helsinge, All Too Hard was the sale topper at the 2011 Easter Yearling Sale, with Nathan Tinkler paying $1.025 million.
The colt’s value is now many times that with Saturday’s Group Two Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) his third win from three starts.
After settling back early, All Too Hard ($1.35 fav) peeled around the field and moved to the lead halfway down the straight.
Dwayne Dunn eased him down nearing the line with the length margin flattering runner-up Narcissus.
A decision on whether he runs in the Golden Slipper will not be made until the final acceptance deadline of Tuesday morning.
Co-trainer John Hawkes said the win was impressive but as usual he would not make a decision on race day.
“He did what he had to do,” Hawkes said.
“You never what will happen. We’ll wait and see.
“He is a big strong boy and a lovely, quality horse.”
Ichihara, winner of Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes for fillies, is not nominated for the Slipper and her owner George Altomonte has a $150,000 decision to make.
Melbourne-based Dunn said he would be only too happy if All Too Hard ran in the Slipper.
“I’d be happy to be back here next week,” he said.
“He either needed to race today or go to a barrier trial on Monday.
“That was like a barrier trial for him.
“He has the pedigree and I think he has a better turn of foot than Black Caviar.
“She rolls into the race and has that killer furlong (200m) from the 600 (metres) but he can sprint.”
Black Caviar apparently agrees, taking to Twitter to say: “Very impressive little brother. He does not have my early speed but what a finish.”
Dunn said he respected Samaready who kept her unbeaten record intact with victory in last week’s Reisling Stakes.
“She has done it all where this fellow can do it,” he said.
The 16-horse field for the Golden Slipper will be declared on Tuesday morning.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Pierro, who is also unbeaten, is the third favourite at $7.50 ahead of stablemate No Looking Back at $9 while there is no price given for Ichihara because she is not nominated.