Racing: All too easy for All Too Hard

All Too Hard. Photo / Getty Images

There was a Black Caviar moment at Rosehill on Saturday and now the Golden Slipper awaits.

All Too Hard, the younger brother of the world's best sprinter Black Caviar, was the talk of the track after a stunning Sydney debut win.

Rival trainers and jockeys were left shaking their heads in disbelief after All Too Hard toyed with his rivals in the group two A$175,000 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m), winning without raising a sweat and in a manner so reminiscent of the great Black Caviar.

"An absolute star," trainer David Payne told the Herald Sun as he watched All Too Hard cruising home to win easily.

However, trainer John Hawkes refused to commit All Too Hard to a start in the A$3.5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill next Saturday.

"We don't have to make a decision on the Golden Slipper today; we've got until Tuesday," Hawkes said.

All Too Hard ($1.35 favourite) made it three wins from as many starts with one of the easiest big-race wins imaginable, easing right down to a jog over the line with a length to spare from Narcissus ($21) with nearly two lengths to Limes ($61).

His win was so impressive that TAB Sportsbet fixed odds immediately elevated All Too Hard to equal Golden Slipper favouritism at $3 with Blue Diamond winner Samaready.

Jockey Nash Rawiller described Laser Hawk as the most exciting horse he had ridden since Elvstroem after his tough win in the A$500,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

If that wasn't a big enough statement, trainer Gai Waterhouse chimed in with her own: "You won't find a better 3-year-old stayer."

Laser Hawk had won the classic by a narrow margin but the remarks of Rawiller and Waterhouse are indicative of what is to come, rather than what the gelding has already achieved.

"We haven't seen the best of this horse yet and that is what Nash means," the trainer told the Herald Sun. "Laser Hawk was having only his fifth start today, and just his third in the city, so to win a group one race against the best 3-year-olds in this part of the world says it all."

Laser Hawk settled close to the lead early, forged to the front halfway down the straight and held on to win by a half neck from New Zealand raiders Ocean Park and favourite Silent Achiever.

Rawiller was Elvstroem's regular rider and the pair combined to win the 2004 Caulfield Cup and 2005 Dubai Duty-Free, so his comparison is a compliment to Laser Hawk's emerging staying ability.

Trainer Roger James was pleased with the effort of New Zealand Derby winner Silent Achiever who could meet Laser Hawk again in the Australian Derby on April 14.

"It's hard to peak a horse for 2400m and bring them back to 2000," he said.

"She ran well.

"Both the Oaks and the Derby are open to her but we'll wait and see."

Fellow Kiwi Gary Hennessy said Ocean Park would not be heading to the Derby. "He showed a huge amount of heart. He won't run in the Derby.

"He will run in the Tulloch Stakes next Saturday."

- AAP