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Black Caviar a hard act to follow

Friday 17 February 2012
Robert Windmill

Black Caviar's half-brother All Too Hard can put himself into Blue Diamond contention if he can win his race debut at Flemington.

The Casino Prince colt is one of six Talindert Stakes runners still in next week's Blue Diamond and anyone of them can cement a start in the $1 million Caulfield feature with success down the straight.

John Hawkes trains All Too Hard with his sons Wayne and Michael but the stable is focused on Saturday's assignment rather than the possibility of running in the Blue Diamond.

"We can't really worry about that until after the race on Saturday," Wayne Hawkes said.

"After the race things will sort themselves out but I haven't really thought about it (Blue Diamond) to be honest.

"There's a big difference between running tomorrow and running in the Blue Diamond.

"If you can't win tomorrow you pretty much can't run in the Diamond and it is always hard to run down the straight as you never know how it will play."

John Hawkes told Radio Sport National that All Too Hard would make a better three-year-old than two-year-old but he was ready to go to the races after winning a jumpout at Flemington last Friday.

"He worked to the line quite nicely and whatever he does tomorrow he will learn from," John Hawkes said.

Hawkes said All To Hard, who cost Nathan Tinkler $1.025 million, looked the part.

"He's a lovely big, strong horse with a good attitude and plenty of rein," Hawkes said.

"He's well educated and knows what to do and has trialled well down the straight so I expect him to run really well."

Black Caviar is set to win her 19th race just over three hours later in the Lightning Stakes.

Timely Truce, Liberty Rock, Rappers Delight, Forget and Strive To Excel are other Talindert runners still in the Blue Diamond.

David Hayes said he would have three Blue Diamond Stakes runners unless Rappers Delight can convince him otherwise with a first-up win in the Talindert.

Hayes has confirmed Caulfield debut winner Mama's Choice, Mrs Gray and last week's Prelude winner General Rippa as his Diamond representatives but has left the door open for Rappers Delight if he is good enough.