Cox Plate runner-up All Too Hard's future will be decided after trainer John Hawkes assesses the colt's form in a brief autumn campaign.

The Nathan Tinkler-owned All Too Hard conquered the previously unbeaten Pierro to win the Caulfield Guineas two weeks ago, but bowed to a mighty run by Ocean Park at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Trailing in the last four until the 400 metre mark, Ocean Park cut loose with a blistering run to the line under Glen Boss to snare the $3 million Cox Plate by a neck.

Hawkes said he was delighted with the three-year-old's performance.

"It was fantastic," Hawkes said. "He did everything we could ask of him.

"He maybe got to the front just a little bit too soon, but he ran enormous and we're rapt in him."

Hawkes said he ignored critics who thought 2000 metres was beyond the horse.

"A lot of people thought I should have run him in the (Golden) Slipper too but that's why he was in the Cox Plate today, because he trained on great since the (Caulfield) Guineas.

"That's the way we work with our horses. We give them every opportunity and if they deserve to be here we try and have them here.

"If they don't, well, they shouldn't be here."

All Too Hard can now look forward to a lengthy break and a return in autumn when his future will be decided.

"I'll go home and let the dust settle," Hawkes said.

"He'll have three or four runs in the autumn then we'll see where we go from there, whether he goes on another year or goes to stud.

"He deserves a rest now. He's finished his campaign off great but we're looking forward to him coming back in the autumn."