Sunday, 26 August 2012:
A Golden Rose win to favourite All Too Hard would be the jackpot result for Patinack Farm and may rule Nathan Tinkler's exciting filly Nechita out of the race.
A half brother to Black Caviar, All Too Hard is prepared by John Hawkes in partnership with his sons Michael and Wayne and is one of a handful of Patinack horses trained outside of the John Thompson stable.
Nechita, the stylish winner of Saturday's Silver Shadow Stakes, is in Thompson's care and but he is realistic about running her against the high-profile colt.
"It means more to the company for the colt to win the Golden Rose and we'll see how he goes next week," Thompson said.
"The boss will make that call.
"If they are (number) one and two picks in the race, you are not really going to want to go there and beat your colt.
"He's a stallion prospect and worth a lot more to our company."
All Too Hard takes his next step towards the $1 million feature when he runs second-up in Saturday's Group Three Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill against unbeaten star Pierro.
He was beaten into third over 1100m on August 18 in the San Domenico Stakes won by Golden Slipper runner-up Snitzerland.
All Too Hard dominates TAB Sportsbet's Golden Rose market at $2.80 with Slipper winner Pierro having been taken out of the market.
On the back of two exhibition gallops in two weeks, Pierro is set to return on Saturday but trainer Gai Waterhouse has flagged the Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley, and not the Golden Rose, as the colt's next target.
Nechita's brilliant first-up win on Saturday prompted a reshaping of the Golden Rose market and she is not the $5 second favourite.
Nechita can be kept to the Princess Series with her big chance to win a Group One in the Flight Stakes as long as she stretches her brilliance to 1600m.
"That's my question because she's such a brilliant filly," Thompson said.
"It's in the back of my mind but the fact she just relaxes so well will take her a long way."
Jockey Christian Reith has no doubts Nechita will be a force at 1600m.
"I've got no concern at all," he said.
"I'd probably be more confident."
While Nechita has already stamped herself as a major spring hope for Thompson, Destruction takes his first steps towards a similar goal when he trials at Randwick on Tuesday on his way to the Group One
Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
A son of the all conquering
Fastnet Rock, Destruction is two from two in Queensland on rain-affected tracks.
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