David Hayes echoes the sentiments of most of his rival trainers ahead of Saturday's Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington, where All Too Hard will start a red hot favourite.''He's a really smart colt and meeting all his rivals at level weights, it is hard to see anything beating him if he stays out of trouble in the run,'' Hayes said.Hayes has not had many Guineas runners since his return from Hong Kong in 2005 but won the race with outstanding filly Miss Finland in 2007, as well as running s

David Hayes echoes the sentiments of most of his rival trainers ahead of Saturday's Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington, where All Too Hard will start a red hot favourite.

''He's a really smart colt and meeting all his rivals at level weights, it is hard to see anything beating him if he stays out of trouble in the run,'' Hayes said.

Hayes has not had many Guineas runners since his return from Hong Kong in 2005 but won the race with outstanding filly Miss Finland in 2007, as well as running second with the highly talented but frustrating Von Costa De Hero in 2009.

Lightly raced Bass Strait, will be Hayes' first Guineas starter since Von Costa De Hero.

After two indifferent runs as a two-year-old, Bass Strait was gelded before his current preparation and it has made a huge difference to the son of Holy Roman Emperor.

He scored an impressive first up win in maiden company, before stepping up to 1600 metres at Betfair Park where he again won comfortably.

Hayes then gave Bass Strait a freshen before dropping him back to the 1400 metres of the C.S. Hayes Stakes at Flemington two weeks ago.

As expected, he settled well out the back, before running home strongly in an effort that convinced Hayes to run him in the Guineas.

''It was always going to be too short for him last start but he ran the best closing sectionals and I was really pleased with his effort.

''I think he is still going to need further and we won't see the best of him until he gets over more ground.

''However he has gone on well since the Hayes Stakes and I'm just hoping there will be a genuine tempo because if there is he can get into the placings on Saturday.''

With Glen Boss who rode Bass Strait last start taking the ride on the Mick Price trained Ajeed, Chad Schofield who rode the gelding to victory at Sandown, will be back in the saddle on Saturday.

Bass Strait still holds an entry for the Group 1 Darley Australian Cup, the final leg of the G1 Middle Distance Championship to be run at Flemington on Saturday week but is more likely to head to Sydney to compete against his own age after the Guineas. (www.racingvictoria.net.au)