Pierro and All Too Hard's racetrack rivalry continues at Magic Millions weanling sale

The two brilliant performers met on three occasions in group 1 races with All Too Hard having a 2-1 lead over Gai Waterhouse's Golden Slipper-winning colt.

Their first clash was in the ATC Sires' Produce Stakes, which led Pierro into his two-year-old Triple Crown success, but at their next meeting in the Caulfield Guineas All Too Hard won the day.

This led both three-year-olds into the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley and All Too Hard narrowly beat Pierro home into second, the two colts going down to Kiwi galloper Ocean Park.

Soon afterwards both horses were retired to stud with Pierro being bought by Coolmore and All Too Hard going to Vinery.

Both began their stud careers in 2013 and were in huge demand by breeders, hardly a surprising decision considering their racetrack performances, with Pierro recording 11 wins (five group 1s) and three placings with earnings of $4,536,650.

All Too Hard triumphed in seven races with three placings. He won $2,283,200 and had the distinction of being Black Caviar's half brother.

At Sunday's opening session, All Too Hard's progeny got off to a dream start. The first to sell was a striking colt that went to Woodside Farm in Victoria for $210,000.

Then the Kiwis stepped in with Michael Wallace signing for a colt from Kakakakatie (also for $210,000). The next lot, also a colt, went to the bid of Mark and Shelley Treeweek for $160,000.

At the end of the day All Too Hard had five of his progeny average a respectable $180,000 with his vendors all showing handsome profits.

However, Pierro was to win the day after a slow getaway, which saw his first lot fail to meet his reserve. He quickly bounced back and had six youngsters average $196,667.

Segenhoe Stud was the biggest buyer of the Pierros, paying $300,000 for a colt from Rocha and part of the Wood Nook Farm dispersal.

Michael Walker, Damon Gabbedy, Musk Creek Farm (who sold Pierro as a yearling) and another Kiwi buyer were among Pierro's day one admirers.

On Monday Pierro had the first lot to enter the ring - lot 216 - and he was to become the stallion's second-highest lot with James Harron paying $280,000 on behalf of Pierro's owners, the Kolivos family.

However, after day two, Pierro was able to claim victory over All Too Hard with 11 of his weanlings changing hands for an average of $190,909, running second to Fastnet Rock, another of Coolmore's champions, who had seven lots average $195,909.

All Too Hard was to finish fourth in the leading sires lists with eight lots averaging $173,125.

What was a most significant pointer to the duo's future stallion careers was the brilliance of their individuals. The Pierros all looked like they will be extremely precocious at two, just like their dad.

The All Too Hards were tremendous individuals as he was and the stage is set for many, many wonderful clashes by their progeny in the not-too-distant future.

Other weanling highlights included:

• James Harron's first purchase on day one, a colt by Medaglia d'Oro from Starfish from the Wood Nook Farm dispersal. Harron was acting on behalf of his major clients, Dr Edward and Belinda Bateman, part owners of Vancouver, who is by the same sire, and paid $500,000 for the colt.
• The weanling sale average broke new ground with a record total of $60,038 - an increase of 38 per cent.
• A Snitzel filly was to become the second-costliest weanling sold when she topped Monday's session at $310,000 to bloodstock agent John Hutchinson.
• The first progeny of Frankel's half-brother all looked good types with his weanlings selling for $70,000, $65,000 and two for $50,000.

Top Lots: Magic Millions Weanling Sale