Glamour colt All Too Hard all but confirmed a Royal Ascot campaign with a gritty win in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Black Caviar's half-brother had to pull out all stops to beat Rain Affair in the weight-for-age sprint, but he underlined his obvious class after his autumn preparation was interrupted because of a virus.

Rain Affair, denied in the race last year by Atlantic Jewel, went down fighting again to finish second.

Last year's Melbourne Cup runner-up Fiorente made a slashing return to racing with his third placing.

Top mare More Joyous beat one runner home, prompting owner John Singleton to declare he would be severing ties with trainer Gai Waterhouse.

All Too Hard, raced by Vinery Stud after his mid-season purchase from Nathan Tinkler, has now won three successive Group One races to complement his Caulfield Guineas win in the spring.

"We always thought he was the real deal and he proved it again today," Vinery's Peter Orton said.