Clash of the unbeaten colts at Randwick

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SYDNEY, April 11 AAP – Golden Slipper success hasn’t been enough for Pierro to wrestle favouritism from All Too Hard in Saturday’s Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes at Randwick.

The unbeaten Gai Waterhouse-trained colt will clash with the also unbeaten All Too Hard in the 1400m feature.

Black Caviar’s half-brother All Too Hard went up favourite with TAB Sportsbet at $1.50 on Wednesday with Pierro at $2.60.

The pair dominate the market with Pierro’s stablemate Raceway next at $21 after a field of seven was declared for the second leg of the Sydney two-year-old triple crown.

Connections of All Too Hard opted to bypass the Golden Slipper last weekend after his impressive victory in the Group Two Pago Pago Stakes a week earlier.

Trained in partnership by John Hawkes and his sons Michael and Wayne, All Too Hard has already proven himself at 1400m with a dominant victory in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Waterhouse respects All Too Hard but believes Pierro should be the favourite.

“Of course he should be (favourite),” Waterhouse said.

“What’s he got to prove? Nothing.”

Pierro’s Golden Slipper victory added to wins in the Silver Slipper, Todman Stakes and Breeders’ Plate.

Raceway was also well placed on the turn in the Golden Slipper but couldn’t finish the race off like his jockey Hugh Bowman had hoped and finished fifth.

Waterhouse said both Pierro and Raceway had come through the Slipper in good order.

“They have pulled up terrific. They are as happy as pigs in mud,” Waterhouse said.

“I wouldn’t be starting them if I wasn’t really happy with them.”

John O’Shea and Peter Snowden will also have two runners in the Sires with Ashokan and Faustus from the O’Shea stable backing up from the Slipper.

Snowden has Limes and Tatra engaged.

“I knew there would only be a small field,” Waterhouse said.

“And I can’t see why they (Pierro and Raceway) can’t run first and second.”

Waterhouse has come to the fore this autumn with feature race trebles on the past two Saturdays.

She believes both Pierro and Raceway will have no trouble with the step up to 1400m.

“I think they’ll do it with their eyes shut,” the trainer said.

“Pierro has got it in his breeding and Raceway strikes me with the way he races as a horse looking for distance.”

Publisher: AAPNewswire

12 Apr 7:32 AM