Caulfield gallop sets Hartnell up for G2 return

An impressive gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning has Hartnell primed for his return to racing at the same track in Saturday’s G2 PB Lawrence Stakes.

Hartnell, the second-highest ranked Godolphin runner in the IFHA world rankings, moved off from the 1400m and was kept on the bridle as he moved through his gears in a piece of work designed to familiarise him with the Caulfield layout.

Assistant trainer David Charles who heads the Melbourne arm of Godolphin’s Australian operation, said the outing on the course proper had achieved all that head trainer James Cummings had ordered.

“James just wanted him to have a look around because he’d not been to Caulfield before,” Charles said.

“He handled it all without any trouble and his work was first class. He got into a beautiful rhythm and was on the right leg all the way around.”

While the 1400 metres of Saturday’s race is short of Hartnell’s best distance, he has shown throughout the Australian stage of his career that he can produce his form early in a preparation.

“We’re looking for a nice first-up effort on Saturday, he’s ready to run well, but his targets are still a little way down the track.”

Hartnell, who will be ridden by premier Melbourne jockey Craig Williams, last raced in April when second to Winx in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick having also been runner-up behind the champion mare when first-up over 1400m three starts earlier.

His last win came in the G1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last Spring, a run which was followed by placings in the G1 Cox Plate and the G1 Melbourne Cup.

The seven-year-old has been in Melbourne for three weeks with the team giving him every chance to settle in and prepare for a campaign that will continue in next month’s G1 Makybe Diva Stakes, the G1 Turnbull Stakes and, possibly, the G1 Caulfield Cup.

Hartnell holds a ranking of 123 in the August IFHA list, with only Ribchester (124) above him among Godolphin-owned runners worldwide.

Also at Caulfield on Tuesday, the colts Veranillo and Souchez galloped on the course proper in preparation for their resumption at Saturday’s meeting.

Veranillo runs in the G3 Vain Stakes and Souchez in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes.