Former weight for age star, All Too Hard, has covered an outstanding group of mares in his first season at Vinery.

Few stallions have had a more impressive list of mares awaiting his services than the weight for age star of the 2012-13 racing season.

He was the star act of his three year old season in defeating Pierro in the Caulfield Guineas, and only beaten a whisker by Ocean Park in the Cox Plate

All Too Hard returned to racing in the Autumn, a much better horse than in the Spring, a fair assessment by three to four kgs.

He ruled the roost in the Autumn winning the Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes at Caulfield, and the All Aged Stakes at Randwick.

There was nothing left to prove, he had done it all, the logical option was to go to stud as a sire, sound in wind and limb, with Vinery in the Hunter Valley, meeting all the criteria.

The response for services has been overwhelming, beyond expectations, he is getting the support a horse of his calibre deserves.

Triple Melbourne Cup winner, Makybe Diva, Coolmore Classic success, Bollinger ,and Zouzou the dam of Zoustar, were lining up awaiting his presence 

All Too Hard covered no less than 18 Group 1 winners, including Allez Wonder, Bel Mer, Devil Moon , Fashions Afield, Headway, Mid Summer Music, Mitjulisa Lass, Reginmental Gal, Scarlett Lady, Serious Speed, Sun Classique, and an additional 54 individual Group, or Listed, winners.

The book also includes dams of N Z Champion two year old of last season, Rudd Awakening, and three times winner, and Champion miler, in Singapore Better Life, Cox Plate winner, Savabeel, and Golden Slipper victor, Polar Success.

“ It was a difficult decision for us to retire a colt with so much more to offer as a racehorse, particularly with the Championships on offer this year, “ said Vinery’s general manager Peter Orton “ “All Too Hard did all we could have asked for, and more, on the track, and is now excelling in the breeding barn,” he added.

All Too Hard is the only horse in Australia to be sold at public auction for a seven figure sum, and double its original purchase price in stake money.

All Too Hard had a busy season at Vinery

Mossfun, a winner at her last three starts, is generating a lot of interest in the Golden Slipper market after her authoritative win in the Silver Slipper Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

It was another jewel in the crown for her sire, Mossman, who is experiencing a remarkable season at Vinery.

Now in his nineteenth year, and his thirteenth season at stud, it is not that common to see a sire get a precocious two year old, such as Mossfun, in what should be regarded as his declining years.

Mossman is the exception and certainly not the rule, he could be likened to a good red, it just gets better with age.

He has inherited much of that longevity from his own sire, Success Express, who stood at several studs throughout Australia and also in New Zealand at one stage.

It would be fitting to see Mossman sire a Golden Slipper winner as he is from a family that has produced a Slipper success in Guineas, who won the coveted Slipper in 1997.

Mossman - A great head study

Mossfun is coming into calculations as a definite Slipper threat, she has proved she has the speed to be handy for most of the trip and can run on as was shown of Saturday.

Vinery, the leading stud in the Hunter Valley, is enjoying another great season with its sires to the fore with a list of winners.

Mossman is the current flagship for Vinery, his latest Stakes winner, Mossfun, is proving a pretty handy filly, her win in the Widden Stakes was impressive, she turned in a big run, whether the Hawkes team will go on with her to the Golden Slipper is yet to be decided.

While Mossfun was collecting the laurels at Rosehill, Agister was playing his part with a win over 1100 metres at Morphettville.

Both winners will be represented at the Sydney Easter Sales with each having a half relation in the catalogue.

It was not all about Mossman though, Testa Rossa was in the act as well with a two state double when the inform Exceedingly won at Doomben, and Testamezzo completed the double at Ascot.

Husson, now located at Vinery, is proving more that a useful sire, he was unbeaten as a racehorse winning five times, Hi Son presented him with a winner when he won at Doomben.  

Vinery continues to have an extraordinary season, the stallions are getting winners, it is made to order with the Sydney Easter Sales approaching, the stud will again be represented with a quality draft of high class yearlings.

Excites, one of the few sons of Danewin still at stud, was back among the winners when Sistine Demon won his fifth race on end at Caulfield on Saturday, and Red Express saluted at Rosehill, giving the good looking bay sire a two state double.

More Than Ready continues to come up with good horses season after season, and he has struck gold again in Nayeli, a brilliant filly from a magnificent family, with her pedigree she is a sure investment.

Mossman continues to sire winners at a consistent rate, with Admiral keeping the flag flying winning the Elwick Stakes in Hobart.

Winners continue to roll in for Vinery, as was seen at Canterbury last Friday night, when three of the stud’s sires were represented by winners on the seven race cards.

The evergreen Mossman struck the first blow when the four year old mare, Stolen Kisses, trained by Guy Walter, at Warwick Farm.

Mossman has international status having sired winners in seven different countries; he has sired 71 winners so far this season.

More Than Ready, the leading sire by progeny earnings, sired Knoydart on the same program and the grand sire of Moozoon, winner of the Listed Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham.

The third leg of the Canterbury treble went to Casino Prince when Transonic won the sponsored Congrats @ Vinery, for fillies and mares.