Black Caviar's half-brother All Too Hard bags first winner

Black Caviar’s half-brother All Too Hard supplied his first winner since retiring to stud when Lincoln Hills landed race two at Tauherenikau over 5f on Sunday.

The seven-year-old son of Casino Prince and Helsinge took up residence at Vinery Stud in the Hunter Valley in 2013 having won four Group 1s at three, including the Caulfield Guineas in which he defeated the likes of Pierro and Epaulette, and having been crowned champion three-year-old colt for the 2012-13 Australian season. He was introduced to breeders at a fee of A$66,000 (£40,350/€46,600).

All Too Hard had endured a frustrating run of place-getters with his first runners, including Group 3 Widden Stakes runner-up Mystic Empire, but was made to wait for longer than many anticipated to secure his first winner.

The Lisa Latta-trained Lincoln Hills was picked up from the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale for $55,000. The chestnut colt is out of Hickory Hills, a daughter of another Vinery Stud resident More Than Ready, who is an unraced half-sister to Listed winner Zauberin and out of a sister to the dam of champion two-year-old and Golden Slipper winner Vancouver.

Widden Stud's Your Song, a son of Fastnet Rock, is currently leading the Australian first-season sires' title by number of winners, having supplied six scorers to date. While Coolmore's Pierro, who has had two winners, heads the list by earnings thanks in part to the exploits of Group 3 winner and Golden Slipper third Tulip.

Those that fancy owning one of All Too Hard’s progeny for themselves will have the opportunity to pick one up at the upcoming three-day Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, which takes place in Sydney from April 4. There are 18 lots by the sire set to come under the hammer.