Category Archives: Casino Prince

All Too Hard’s racing days over

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VINERY STUD RELEASE – After consultation with the colt’s shareholders and his trainers Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, it was decided that All Too Hard had nothing left to prove, he had beaten the best, over the ideal distances and against all ages.

All Too Hard retires after winning three consecutive Weight For Age, Group 1 races for his new owners; the CF Orr stakes (1400m), the Futurity Stakes (1400m) and after a well publicized setback, he stood tall to come to Sydney to beat the best in the All Aged Stakes (1400m).

All this was a perfect follow on from his brilliant Spring in Melbourne where he ran down Pierro to win the Caulfield Guineas Gr1, before meeting the best Weight For Age horses in the country and being caught on the line by Ocean Park in the W.S. Cox Plate.

For the first time in history he is the only horse to ever win the Caulfield Guineas, C.F Orr (WFA), Futurity (WFA) and All Aged (WFA) in one season.

“We are obviously very disappointed to see All Too Hard retire, but we understand the owners’ decision to do so”, said his trainer John Hawkes.

“You don’t see too many colts as good as this horse come along, he is a super horse, he has shown just what he is capable of doing and would have potentially gone on to win many more top class races and in doing so establishing himself as one of the greats. We are proud to have been part of the colt’s career on the track; he will get the best of opportunity at stud, he will make a great stallion and we look forward to training his stock in the future”.

His retirement comes fresh on the heels of the release of the latest World Thoroughbred rankings this week where All Too Hard has been awarded the highest rated 3yo in the country and second highest Australian Racehorse, second only to no other than his big sister Black Caviar.  He was also rated equal highest 3yo colt in the world (World Thoroughbred Rankings Jan ’13).

“It was a difficult decision for us to retire a colt with so much more to offer as a racehorse”, said Vinery Stud’s General Manager, Peter Orton.

“All Too Hard has done all we could have asked for and more. He is the most exciting stallion prospect I have seen for many years. He is the most spectacular physical who will be sure to dominate and offer a great pedigree mix to a vast range of broodmares.  He possesses an outstanding pedigree being out ofHelsinge and a half brother to World Champion Sprinter Black Caviar but offers the blood of Champion sires such as Danehill, Snippets, Last Tycoon, Flying Spur and Vain.

“All Too Hard retires as a lightly raced stallion who since being announced as standing this season, we have been inundated with bookings which will see his 2013 book being finalize shortly”.

Casino Prince sires SA Derby winner

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His brilliant son All Too Hard (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) is among those in contention for Australian Horse Of The Year honours but Casino Prince (Flying Spur – Lady Capel, by Last Tycoon) is now the sire of a Derby winner after Escado (Casino Prince – Secret Cause, by Giant’s Causeway) held his rivals in the Saturday’s Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.

The Patinack Farm stallion had never produced a winner beyond 1800 metres before Escado’s victory, which also provided his young trainer, Mornington-based Matt Laurie, his first Group 1 victory.

Escado settled midfield on the fence in the early stages of the South Australian Derby with jockey Ben Melham content to let him roll along at his own tempo while some of the other runners chopped and changed their positions behind a smart speed midrace.

“I didn’t see a problem with the fence and I was happy to stay there,” Melham said.

Melham guided Escado through an opening along the fence when his rival riders began to fan wide rounding the home turn before the gelding hit the front 250 metres out.

Escado’s easy run ensured he had plenty in reserve to comfortably hold off the runner-up Hioctdane (Strada – Autobahn, by Octagonal), which made good ground along the inside from the back of the field while the Listed Galilee Series Final (2500m) victor Shoreham (Reset – Teneales Pearl, by Redoute’s Choice) was the only runner to mount a serious Derby challenge down the outside of the track.

“There are no words to describe it,” the Mornington-based Laurie told Sky Racing. “It’s just my third Group 1 runner. I’m rapt.

“Ben is in great form. He’s a great jockey, a great mare and I’m pleased we’ve been able to do it as a combination. There are no words to describe it.”

Escado failed to meet a $55,000 reserve at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Shoreham was also a graduate of the Oaklands Junction sale as was the unplaced favourite Hvasstan (Fastnet Rock – Snow Hero, by True Hero).

Escado became the third stakes winner for Casino Prince and the second Group 1 winner sired by the 2008 Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) victor.

As for All Too Hard, his co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said the star colt could be a surprise entrant in the $500,000 Scone Guineas (1600m) on May 18.

Hawkes, who trains All Too Hard with his father John and brother Michael, said the three-year-old might need another start or barrier trial before his likely trip to England to run in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes (1m) at the Royal Ascot meeting in June.

 

All Too Hard simply brilliant in All Aged

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The carry-on between John Singleton and the Waterhouse camp monopolised the headlines following the Group 1 Yarraman Park All Aged Stakes (1400m) but top colt All Too Hard (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Prince) produced a brilliant performance to claim the Randwick event.

The newspapers and television stations went to town on the More Joyous (More Than Ready – Sunday Joy, by Sunday Silence)  debacle, which also involved bookmakers Tom and Robbie Waterhouse, overshadowing All Too Hard’s maiden Group 1 victory in Sydney.

All Too Hard’s three previous Group 1 wins had been in Melbourne in the Caulfield Guineas, CF Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes but the son of Casino Prince (Flying Spur – Lady Capel, by Last Tycoon) had won only once in five starts in Sydney before his All Aged Stakes triumph.

The colt’s All Aged Stakes success was due, in no small part, to a terrific training performance from the Hawkes Racing operation. Illness cost All Too Hard the chance to run in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington but Hawkes Racing took its time to get All Too Hard right before sending him out to compete again, waiting until he was 100 percent right before the valuable three-year-old raced again.

All Too Hard jumped well to settle fourth in the early stages of the All Aged Stakes but More Joyous’s rider Nash Rawiller was able to ease out underneath Black Caviar’s (Bel Esprit – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) half-brother, forcing him wider, rounding the home turn. All Too Hard looked to be struggling to produce his dazzling acceleration until he got balanced atop the Randwick rise before he motored home late to consign Rain Affair (Commands – I Believe, by Octagonal) to second in the All Aged Stakes for the second straight year after Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock – Regard, by Zabeel) produced a similar turn of foot to beat him in 2012.

“To do what he’s done today in pulling out all stops takes a gutsy horse. He’s just an absolute athlete, he’s a racehorse and he’s got a big heart,” Michael Hawkes, who trains All Too Hard with his father John and brother Wayne, said.

“It’s been a long road, but he’s just an athlete. He’s got the family, the pedigree and he kicked some arse.”

“He’s up with the best of them, Lonhro and those horses.”

All Too Hard’s owners, a Vinery Stud-led consortium, has an eye on taking him to race at the Royal Ascot carnival in June with a victory to help them position him as a dual-hemisphere stallion prospect. However, Hawkes said the horse’s welfare would come first when assessing the merits of such an excursion.

“The horse comes first. He’s got to pull up enormous and then we’ll decide,” Hawkes said.

As for Waterhouse and Singleton, Racing NSW stewards will hear the latest round of their spat on Friday.

 

Redoute’s Choice trio to take on All Too Hard in Guineas

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Three sons of Arrowfield’s champion stallion Redoute’s Choice (Danehill – Shantha’s Choice, by Canny Lad) will do battle with brilliant colt All Too Hard (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) in Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

Miss Finland (Redoute’s Choice – Forest Pearl, by Woodman) won the Australian Guineas for the stallion in 2007 but oddly, Redoute’s Choice has only had two other representatives in the three-year-old showpiece.

God’s Own (Redoute’s Choice – Angel In Disguise, by Sky Chase) and Dr Doute’s (Redoute’s Choice – No Limit, by Dr Grace) were both unplaced in the Australian Guineas in 2006 and 2009 respectively.

Redoute’s Choice’s 2013 representatives are at big odds but Albrecht (Redoute’s Choice – O’giselle, by Octagonal), Sheer Talent (Redoute’s Choice – St Katherine, by Barathea) and High Esteem (Redoute’s Choice – Park Esteem, by Singspiel) all have solid place chances.

All Too Hard is the one to beat in the Australian Guineas after two exciting wins over older horses in the CF Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes to be a long odds-on favourite of claiming the Caulfield Guineas / Australian Guineas double.

Below is the field for Saturday’s Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington.

No Horse Trainer Jockey BR. Wgt. Sire
1 ALL TOO HARD Hawkes Racing Dwayne Dunn 14 56.5kg Casino Prince
2 ALBRECHT Peter Snowden Kerrin McEvoy 5 56.5kg Redoute’s Choice
3 HVASSTAN Peter Gelagotis Craig Newitt 11 56.5kg Fastnet Rock
4 PHILIPPI Michael Kent Brad Rawiller 6 56.5kg Host
5 SHEER TALENT Mark Kavanagh Michael Rodd 17 56.5kg Redoute’s Choice
6 GRAND EMPEROR Dean Howard Ryan Maloney 4 56.5kg Written Tycoon
7 RED INCA Ray Besanko Peter Mertens 12 56.5kg Stratum
8 SUBIASO Robbie Laing Noel Callow 3 56.5kg Testa Rossa
9 FORCE COMMAND Greg Eurell Brent Evans 15 56.5kg Commands
10 BASS STRAIT (NZ) David Hayes Chad Schofield (a) 2 56.5kg Holy Roman Emperor
11 HOSTING Greg Eurell Chris Symons 16 56.5kg Host
12 AJEEB (NZ) Mick Price Glen Boss 9 56.5kg Al Maher
13 FERLAX (NZ) Jim Conlan Stephen Baster 8 56.5kg Pentire
14 HIGH ESTEEM Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 7 56.5kg Redoute’s Choice
15 HIGH SHOT (NZ) Michael Kent Craig Williams 1 56.5kg High Chaparral
16 YOU’RE SO GOOD (NZ) Nigel Blackiston Vlad Duric 10 54.5kg Savabeel
17e PRAKTICALITY Troy Portelli Dean Yendall 13 56.5kg Rakti

 

All Too Hard blitz in Futurity

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It was All Too Hard’s (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) turn to keep broodmare Helsinge (Desert Sun – Scandinavia, by Snippets) in the spotlight in Saturday’s Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Helsinge’s star progeny Black Caviar (Bel Esprit – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) and All Too Hard had won Group 1 races on the previous two Saturdays with the star sprinter following her half-brother’s Futurity Stakes win with a resounding success in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.

All Too Hard had little trouble providing Helsinge with a Group 1 win for the third successive Saturday. A good beginning allowed jockey Dwayne Dunn to park the valuable colt midfield, saving him for one final run at the line, while the leaders set a strong gallop.

All Too Hard ambled into the race rounding the home turn before he buried his opposition with his brilliant acceleration from the 300 metres. The colt blitzed his rivals late to score by 3-1/4 lengths over Glass Harmonium (Verglas – Spring Symphony, by Darshaan) while King Mufhasa (Pentire – Sheila Cheval, by Mi Preferido) was third.

All Too Hard is more than likely to attempt the Caulfield Guineas / Australian Guineas double next Saturday. Mahogany (Last Tycoon – Alshandegha, by Alydar) was the last three-year-old to complete the double in the 1993/94 season.

“He’ll be 99 percent sure of running but obviously we’ve got to see how he licks the bin and how he is the next 48 hours and if there is any doubt we won’t,” Wayne Hawkes, who trains All Too Hard with his father John and brother Wayne, said.

“The best part about today was that it is very hot here in Melbourne and he paraded exceptionally well and colts can get a bit hot but he was very relaxed behind the gates and looked really good on the TV. We knew he was focussed and that’s how he won.”

Black Caviar’s part-owner Neil Werrett was part of the consortium that purchased All Too Hard from Patinack Farm through his ownership of a stake of Vinery Australia. The prominent owner said he was thrilled with the way the bright stud prospect had started to repay his multi-million-dollar purchase price.

“All Too Hard was a big risk when we bought him but he was a developing horse and what we knew with Black Caviar was that she developed and developed,” Werrett said.

“Today and last week (Orr Stakes) showed us that as a three-year-old and four-year-old this horse is going to be quite dominant.”

“He had the best breeding of probably any horse in Australia so from our point of view it probably wasn’t a big gamble but it was a lot of money.”

All Too Hard wins CF Orr for new owners

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His superstar half-sister Black Caviar (Bel Esprit – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) won last year’s Group 1 CF Orr Stakes (1400m) but was never under the pressure All Too Hard (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) was before his success in Saturday’s renewal of the Caulfield feature.

Thankfully, horses probably don’t know a lot about the expectations owners place on them. All Too Hard has the unenviable task of repaying his new owners’ outlay of more than $20 million that they spent to buy the colt as part of a blockbuster deal with Patinack Farm founder Nathan Tinkler.

All Too Hard carried the Patinack Farm colours to victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas in the spring, assuring his stud career, to accompany his three two-year-old stakes wins, which included two a Group 2 level.

The son of Casino Prince (Flying Spur – Lady Capel, by Last Tycoon) stepped out in Vinery Stud’s green and white silks for the first time in the CF Orr Stakes, which was the seventh race of a meeting dominated by the on-pacers but co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said he instructed jockey Dwayne Dunn to ride All Too Had confidently.

“The way the races have been run here today, it has been fairly leader biased and there hasn’t been much coming from behind,” Hawkes, who trains All Too Hard in partnership with his father John and brother Michael, said.

“The last thing I said (to Dunn) was, ‘you are on the best horse and ride him like it’.”

Dunn followed Hawkes’s instructions, letting All Too Hard find his feet back in the field before the colt’s terrific acceleration enabled him to make up ground quickly when asked at the 600 metres.

All Too Hard first ended the chances of Kiwi star (King) Mufhasa (Pentire – Sheila Cheval, by Mi Preferido) adding to his haul of 10 Group 1 wins before forging to the lead inside the 150 metres.

All Too Hard understandably tired a touch in the final 50 metres but had a half-length to spare over returning stayers Mawingo (Tertullian – Montfleur, by Sadler’s Wells) and Mr Moet (Mosayter – Marlock Miss, by Karioi Star).

Hawkes said All Too Hard was far from fully fit for the first outing of a campaign what would probably include a trip to England for an attempt to emulate Black Caviar with a win at the Royal Ascot carnival before his begins his duties at Vinery Stud next season.

“The pressure is on but you want to keep his record intact and make everything right,” Hawkes said. “He’s not screwed down yet. Where he’s going to end up, we’re not sure yet but you can’t do much more than win first-up over seven furlongs.

“He’s never done that before. He’ll be having a big blow because he’s a big boy. There was a lot of pressure on him too. He’s worth a lot of money and we had done our job but he has the final say. All credit where it is due.”

Vinery confirms All Too Hard purchase

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Vinery Stud has confirmed the acquisition of boom three-year-old colt All Too Hard (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Sun), half brother to Champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) from the troubled Patinack Farm operation.

The Nathan Tinkler-owned Patinack Farm group has suffered enormous financial strain in 2012 as the proprietor fights to keep his coal empire afloat in a tough international economy.

All Too Hard fetched $1.025 million at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale before the colt blitzed his opposition in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) and Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) before Tinkler decided against running the colt in the Golden Slipper.

All Too Hard returned in his three-year-old season to end the unbeaten streak of the two-year-old triple crown winner Pierro (Lonhro – Miss Right Note, by Daylami) in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) to secure his future as a stallion, wherever he would stand, before backing that effort up when he defeated all but Kiwi star Ocean Park (Thorn Park – Sayyida, by Zabeel) in the WS Cox Plate (2040m).

“All Too Hard is one of the most exciting stallion prospects we have seen for many years,” Vinery Stud General Manager Peter Orton said. “This horse is the real deal. Not only is he a super racehorse, his pedigree is perfectly suited to our conditions.

“All Too Hard is a spectacular individual physically; he has great power, precocity and presence, all the attributes that make a great stallion.”

“All Too Hard will remain in training with astute horsemen, John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, which we are particularly pleased about. They know him so well and couldn’t have looked after him better.”

“The current race program is for All Too Hard to resume racing this autumn in Melbourne with the Australian Guineas as his initial goal before returning to Sydney for the Autumn Carnival there. We will be discussing the future programming of All Too Hard with the Hawkes team next week and seeking their advice going forward.”

 

All Too Hard all too good in Guineas

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Brilliantly talented but erratic colt All Too Hard (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) stormed home over the top of last season’s champion two-year-old Pierro (Lonhro – Miss Right Note, by Daylami) to claim a thrilling renewal of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

The pre-race hype centred on Pierro taking the Caulfield Guineas en route to the Cox Plate but All Too Hard decided to turn on his best form to end the Golden Slipper winner’s eight-race winning streak.

All Too Hard settled at the back of the field before sustaining a long run to overpower Pierro late in the race after the runner-up worked hard to find a position near the lead early in the race.

Hawkes Racing co-trainer Wayne Hawkes told all and sundry in the lead-up to the Caulfield Guineas that All Too Hard could upset Pierro if he “brought his A-game” to the $1 million event before the outstanding three-year-old proved his stable correct by becoming the first Group 1 winner for young Patinack Farm stallion Casino Prince (Flying Spur – Lady Capel, by Last Tycoon).

As a half-brother to champion sprinter Black Caviar (Bel Esprit – Helsinge, by Desert Sun), All Too Hard’s stud future was already assured but the colt will command much heftier service fee when he begins his breeding career at Patinack Farm.

“This is the race that makes stallions,” Hawkes, who trains All Too Hard in partnership with his father John and brother Michael, said.

“He is a colt, he jumped cleanly today with the barrier blanket on and he wanted to do it because it was a big, big run.”

All Too Hard topped the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when he fetched $1.025 million.

Casino Prince Champion First Season Sire

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Patinack Farm stallions Casino Prince (Flying Spur – Lady Capel, by Last Tycoon) and Husson (Hussonet – Villa Elisa, by Roy) have quinellaed the Australian First Season Sires’ Premiership.

Casino Prince comprehensively took out the title, thanks largely to the deeds of Black Caviar’s (Bel Esprit – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) half-brother All Too Hard (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Sun).

All Too Hard won Stakes races at his first three starts before the exciting colt finished second to star juvenile Pierro (Lonhro – Miss Right Note, by Daylami) in the Group 1 AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

Casino Prince sired 10 individual winners of 14 races while Husson produced 11 winners of 13 race, including two Stakes winners Hussousa (Husson – Petousa, by Redoute’s Choice) and Affable (Casino Prince – Lady Gracious, by Redoute’s Choice).

Husson will stand for $22,000 at Patinack Farm in the 2012 breeding season while Casino Prince will command a fee of $27,500 in the spring.

 

Casino Prince extends first-crop lead

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Group 1 winner Casino Prince has made an excellent start to his stud career and he enjoyed a good weekend.

The son of Flying Spur is at the head of the First-Season Sires list for Australia by earnings just ahead of his Patinack Farm barnmate Husson (Arg) and following the devastating win of his son All Too Hard (2 c Helsinge, by Desert Sun) in the Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday, Casino Prince added another winner to his list on Sunday.

All Too Hard

All Too Hard

Utilism (2 f Joie More, by More Than Ready) came with a fine turn of foot in the straight to win the $10,000 Sky Racing Maiden (1200m) at the Sunshine Coast, defeating her stablemate Finality (2 f Husson – Curtains [USA], by A P Jet) by one length to score.

Casino Prince now has five winners and his earnings total $418,750. The clear financial leader he is second only to Husson by number of winners and they are the only first-season sires in Australia to have sired a stakes winner in Australia so far this season.