The two highest-profile colts in Australia. Neck and neck with 200 metres to run. In the nation's best weight-for-age race.

That's the scenario All Too Hard's co-trainer Wayne Hawkes would love to see at Moonee Valley on Saturday should the colt be given the green light to start.

The decision on whether the three-year-old half-brother to Black Caviar runs in the Cox Plate (2040m) will be made by senior training partner John Hawkes after trackwork on Tuesday morning.

If the colt does run in the $3 million race, Wayne Hawkes said he would look forward to another battle with Pierro who was beaten for the first time by All Too Hard in the Group One Caulfield Guineas.

"He's untried at 2000 (metres) but it would be great to see him and Pierro at the top of the straight, both having had the perfect run and go head to head. I'd love to be in that position," Wayne Hawkes said.

"They've both had the perfect run, they're both there with 200 (metres) to go fighting each other. That would be the pinnacle for me I reckon."

Pierro is favourite for the Cox Plate and one of three runners set to contest the event for trainer Gai Waterhouse along with fellow three-year-old Proisir and eight-time Group One-winning mare More Joyous.

All Too Hard came from the back of the field to hand Pierro his first defeat in the Caulfield Guineas with much of the post-race talk focused on the runner-up who had a tough time in the early stages of the race.

"It was all about Pierro getting beaten, there wasn't much about All Too Hard winning," Wayne Hawkes said.

"I reckon we'll run the trip right out."

John Hawkes won the Cox Plate with champion Octagonal in 1995 and came close in 2001 when Viscount was narrowly beaten by Northerly and Sunline.

Wayne Hawkes said All Too Hard's trackwork on Tuesday would determine whether the colt ran in the Cox Plate.

"He's going to work at Flemington tomorrow morning and if he works great tomorrow morning then he'll run," Hawkes said.

"Everyone keeps telling us he's going to run but there's no guarantees.

"He didn't run in the Golden Slipper and everyone was telling us we were playing funny buggers and were going to run him, but we didn't.

"Lonhro won a Caulfield Guineas (in 2001) and went to the paddock.

"It's funny, the more honest you are, the more people don't believe you."

Chris Munce, who rode All Too Hard in the George Main Stakes, will take the ride at 49.5kg if he runs in the Cox Plate.