Emma Pritchard|

It was easy work for Hard Labour as the four-year-old daughter of All Too Hard strode clear to win Race 3, the Sky Racing International Mother’s Gift over 1400m on Grafton Cup Day.

The feature event of the 2021 July Racing Carnival for fillies and mares, the race is named after 2000 Ramornie Handicap winner Mother’s Gift, who was trained on the track by John Shelton.

Following a soft trial at the Gold Coast last month, Hard Labour started the 3/1 odds on favourite and benefited from a perfect run through the field to score by over one and a half lengths from the Kris Lees trained galloper Think Free.

Willo Titto boxed on gamely for third.

Trained in partnership by Toby and Trent Edmonds at Bundall, Hard Labour was considered a stakes level competitor earlier in her career and has now won five of her nine race starts and more than $100000 in prizemoney.

Following the race, jockey Andrew Mallyon said Hard Labour hit the line well and is a progressive type going forward.