15 May 2024Hard To Cross was an eye-catching placegetter when resuming and he relished a step up in distance to score with authority on the Hillside course at Sandown.
Our homebred son of All Too Hard had finished third on his return over 1400 metres at Flemington and trained Patrick Payne had him primed for his second-up essay over a mile.
The well-related Hard To Cross was caught wide early before apprentice Ryan Houston was able to slot in one off the fence with the leaders in sight.
The four-year-old challenged 300 metres from home and was too good in the closing stages for his fourth victory.
“I was able to get cover and from then on kept him relaxed,” Houston said.
“He came down the hill and went through his gears and was really strong.”
Hard To Cross was purchased by Malua Bloodstock for A$140,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale where he was offered on our behalf by Maluka Thoroughbreds.
He is out of the Commands mare Egyptian Cross, a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Egyptian Symbol, who is a daughter of the G1 Railway Handicap winner Egyptian Ra.
Egyptian Cross is the dam of the Pierata colt Red Sea, who has carried our colours to victory this season and finished runner-up in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, and has since produced two sons of Almanzor.