Rivals rejoice in withdrawal of favourite All Too Hard

THE lure of a $3.5 million Golden Slipper wasn't a big enough carrot for trainer John Hawkes and billionaire owner Nathan Tinkler to run star colt All Too Hard in Saturday's big race.

Hawkes and Tinkler have put the welfare of emerging superstar All Too Hard before any immediate financial reward by deciding against accepting for the world's richest juvenile race.

Unbeaten All Too Hard had been the $2.80 favourite before his shock withdrawal was confirmed.

"He is not running," Hawkes said. "We just decided to wait for the Sires (Produce Stakes) next week."

Hawkes said the decision was made in consultation with his sons, co-trainers Michael and Wayne, and Tinkler.

"The horse always comes first - always has, always will," Hawkes said. "We did it with our good filly Camarilla (2007). We decided not to run her in the Slipper because it just wasn't the right race for her and she came out the next week to win the Sires."

Hawkes is adamant All Too Hard will be a better horse next season and beyond, while long-term, races like the Caulfield Guineas and even the Cox Plate are realistic aims.

But there was a collective sigh of relief from rival trainers, owners and jockeys when news of All Too Hard's defection became known.

"I said 'thank you Nathan' can't say I shed a tear," said Mick Price, trainer of new Slipper favourite Samaready.

Corey Brown, rider of Snitzerland, was surprised to learn All Too Hard was out.

"I thought Nathan and John would have put the colt in after his easy win last week but I'm not disappointed he is not there," Brown said.

The all-important barrier draw, held in the Museum of Contemporary Art yesterday, provided more good news for Price and Brown as:

SAMAREADY will start from barrier 11 and firmed into $2.40 favouritism after some big bets post-draw including $8000 at $2.50;

SNITZERLAND, who drew barrier seven, appreciated wearing blinkers at trackwork and had the measure of top three-year-old Hot Snitzel;

GAI Waterhouse has five runners and incredibly all drew inside 10 Pierro (one), No Looking Back (three), Driefontein (eight), Raceway (nine) and Later Gator (10);

TRAINER John O'Shea was left devastated after his three well-bred colts Faustus (13), Ashokan (14) and Shelford (15) all drew wide;

GERALD Ryan's three runners Amorino (2), Cavalry Rose (5) and Snitzerland (7) drew ideally; and

HONG Kong-based jockey Brett Prebble, who won the 2010 race on Crystal Lily, returns to ride Shelford.

Unbeaten Blue Diamond winner Samaready pleased Price when she worked with Liechtenstein over 800m in 48.1sec at Randwick yesterday morning with the trainer declaring "She has improved since her Rosehill win."

Waterhouse couldn't split her five runners although bookies rate Pierro as the best.

"They are all top good two-year-olds, they are in-form and very fit," she said.

Gerald Ryan, trainer of Snitzerland, said the filly worked brilliantly alongside Hot Snitzel on the course proper at Rosehill.

"It's always very pleasing when have a two-year-old beating older horses in a gallop," he said.

But you had to feel sorry for O'Shea after his three colts drew right off the track. "I can't tell you how disappointed I am," O'Shea said.

Story: Ray Thomas Daily Telegraph