Hartnell After Sky Heights
Hartnell steps back up in distance for the 10-furlong Group Three McGrath Estate Agents Sky High Stakes at Rosehill Gardens, Australia, on Saturday, March 14.
Time/Date - 15.30hrs local time/Saturday, March 14, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Rosehill Gardens/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m 2f
Hartnell steps back up in distance for the 10-furlong Group Three McGrath Estate Agents Sky High Stakes at Rosehill Gardens, Australia, on Saturday, March 14.
The John O'Shea-trained four-year-old ran a superb race on his Australian debut in the Liverpool City Council Chipping Norton Stakes over a mile at Warwick Farm on February 28, when he finished strongly to take second behind stable companion Contributer.
Hartnell raced in the UK last year, coming home seventh in the Group One Ladbrokes St Leger over an extended 14 furlongs at Doncaster on September 15, and finishing sixth in the 12-furlong Group Two Neptune Investment Management Great Voltigeur Stakes at York on August 20.
He made all to win the Group Three Bahrain Trophy over 13 furlongs at Newmarket on July 10, and posted a neck success in the Listed Queen's Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot.
John O'Shea commented: "Hartnell seems to have trained on well. We have decided to keep him in Sydney due to a few little issues that he has presented during the week.
"If we decide to run him here it will be because he is 100 per cent - there should be a bit of jar out of the track and he is weighted to win.
"He is a beautiful gelding and seems to be improving all the time."
Hartnell, ridden by James McDonald, takes on nine rivals including Group One Emirates Melbourne Cup third Who Shot Thebarman, Group Three third Pajaro and Group One Metropolitan scorer Opinion.
James Doyle on Hartnell (white cap) - Contributer (blue cap) © racingandsports.com.au
