One to Watch – Hawkesbury

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday June 17

Bjorn Baker already has a ripping All Too Hard filly in the stable in dual Group I winner Stefi Magnetica and he may have another nice one in Horseshoe Hill.

Third on debut last year in the Listed Wyong 2YO Classic to O’Ole and Memo, Horseshoe Hill was spelled subsequently and has been impressing at the trials in recent weeks in preparation for her return.

Sent out a raging hot favourite in a small field of five for the 1100m maiden at Hawkesbury, Horseshoe Hill was given a patient ride by Rachel King and let down with a brilliant turn of foot in the straight.

Advertisement

She surged up out wide and looked as though she would win easily, but runner-up Vanlee stuck to her guns and the pair dropped their rivals kicking away from them by six lengths with the favourite scoring a by a short neck.

They broke 33 for the last 600m clocking 32.9 seconds for their last split offering a clear indicator that both will be effective in better company.

Stable representative Luke Hilton was pleased for Horseshoe Hill to break the ice with spring plans for the talented filly.

“She's done a good job and she's only going to improve I think as she gets out over further,” said Hilton.

“When Rachel went for her, you're thinking you can get her now and she went bang, but then she had to tough it out with the other one and she had to keep finding.

“She'll learn a bit more and she had a good experience today; she's had a lovely run in the race and she's away now.”

Rachel King ride Horseshoe Hill on debut last year and has been on her at the trials so knows her well.

“She's still a big baby. Look, she's obviously only had that one start and she didn't get around the corner great then and she didn't get around it great again today, so it just took a bit of time to balance and change leads,” said King.

“I felt like I had three or four lengths up my sleeve, but I just couldn't quite find them today, but I think it's there.

“The fact that she was able to do that today was a good move by the team to bring her here so she could afford to do it a little bit wrong and still get away with the win because, like I said, she's very green and she's still learning.”

Horseshoe Hill was a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase.

A $200,000 Magic Millions purchase from Widden Stud for Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)/Cunningham Thoroughbreds, Horseshoe Hill was bred by Barry McRostie is the second winner from Group II winning Encosta de Lago mare Miss Rose de Lago.

Strong and athletic with good sized and scope, Horseshoe Hill was the highest priced filly by All Too Hard sold in 2024.

Widden Stud sold a yearling colt by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) from Miss Rose de Lago at Inglis Premier for $220,000.

Miss Rose De Lago was covered last spring by Trapeze Artist after missing to him the year before.

Visit the profile page for All Too Hard

All Too Hard in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Godolphin Family Funday 20 July Mdn Plate 1100m

Hawkesbury Track: Soft(5) Time: 1:04.29
1
Horseshoe Hill
- 2f All Too Hard (AUS) x Miss Rose De Lago (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 55
2
0.3
Vanlee
- 3f Vancouver (AUS) x Strykinglee (AUS) (Stryker (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: A Hyeronimus 57
3
6.3
Sheeza Tricka
- 3f Widden Valley (AUS) x Final Trick (AUS) (Ad Valorem (USA))
Tnr: M & D Kearney Rdr: Ms W Costin 57
4
9.5
Land Speed
- 3g Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Whispered Secret (AUS) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Bryce Heys Rdr: K S Latham 59
5
13.3
Racy Time
- 2f Time To Reign (AUS) x Racy (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Blake Ryan Rdr: J Ford 55
More Reading...
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
End Of An Era - 2025 G1 Cox Plate
“There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still” - Franklin D Roosevelt.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 23
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
Bold Showing Tipped for Yes Yes Yes 2YO
Speed Demon will be given every opportunity to live up to his name when he makes his debut at Ellerslie.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 22
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.