Hartnell headlines G1 Caulfield Stakes

Godolphin’s best-performed Australian galloper Hartnell retains all the qualities he has shown over several seasons and is ready to produce them in Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Stakes in Melbourne.

A winner at Caulfield first-up back in September, Hartnell has finished second at G1 level at his past two runs – firstly behind Humidor over 1600m in the Makybe Diva Stakes and then at 1800m in the Underwood Stakes by Bonneval.

On Saturday he gets out to 2000m and despite again being opposed by Bonneval, trainer James Cummings is satisfied the horse is at his peak.

“He looks to be in the best condition of his whole preparation,” Cummings said.

“We’ve been a bit disappointed that he couldn’t win at his last two, but we haven’t been disappointed with his effort.

“At each of his past two runs there have been things that didn’t go his way and he still ran very well to finish second and on Saturday he’s getting out to 10 furlongs for the first time this prep.

“He’s had three runs to bring to his top and I’m delighted with where he’s at, he’s really blossomed since the Underwood Stakes.

“I think he’ll give himself every opportunity to turn the tables on what is obviously a very good mare.”

Hartnell is the winner of six races in Australia, including two of the country’s best middle-distance G1 races – the BMW and the Turnbull Stakes – and has earned almost A$4.5 million.

He has been placed in a G1 Cox Plate and G1 Melbourne Cup as well as being the best competitor faced by world-champion mare Winx having finished second to her four times during her 21-win sequence.

Hartnell meets a multi-national group at Caulfield including the Irish pair Riven Light, Johannes Vermeer and Taj Mahal, the classy New Zealanders Jon Snow and Bonneval and the former French runner Gailo Chop.

He is to be ridden for the first time by Glyn Schofield.