Hartnell ready for a world-class performance

Godolphin’s outstanding local star Hartnell, and Winx, the best filly in world racing, face off at Moonee Valley on Saturday, October 22 in a contest that shapes as Australia’s best in a decade.   

The G1 Cox Plate has attracted 10 high-class horses, but it is the big two who have made the 2016 renewal a race of the highest quality.

For Hartnell (John O’Shea/James McDonald), the Cox Plate follows three successive wins in which the son of Authorized has totally dominated his opposition.

Two successes in Sydney in which he scored by a combined total of 13-1/2 lengths were followed by an even more scintillating performance in the G1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in early October in which he beat the subsequent G1 Caulfield Cup winner Jameka by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

And his trainer John O’Shea believes he is still improving.

“I think he’s been on an upward spiral since he’s been in Melbourne, he worked nicely here last week and I feel he’s improved since the Turnbull,” O’Shea said.

Hartnell’s new-found form comes after he won a G1 race in his first Australian preparation in the Autumn of 2015, and then raced indifferently last Spring.

For Winx, her status as the world’s best filly or mare has been earned by 12 consecutive victories, the fifth of which was in the 2015 Cox Plate and the most recent in the G1 Caulfield Stakes in which she beat another of Saturday’s rivals, Black Heart Bart.

While O’Shea can’t help but be conscious of Winx, his thoughts are dominated by Hartnell.

“Winx is a deserving favourite,” he said, “but I don’t go into the race with any expectations, just focus on our horse and having him as good as we can get him on the day.”

To add to the intrigue of the race, both Hartnell and Winx drew suitable barriers in seven and three respectively.

“It’s important for Hartnell to draw out a bit so he can build his momentum and roll into the race from the start without having to be squeezed up to hold his spot,” O’Shea said.

“It gives James options and should allow him to take up a good spot.

“One of the things about this horse is that he can accelerate quickly and he can also relax when he needs to.”

McDonald agreed: “I didn’t want to draw any lower than five.”

“That barrier gives me a bit of space, some time to sum up the situation and do what I need to do.

“I’ll just poke along quietly. It doesn’t matter if he finishes up one pair back or three pairs back.”

Godolphin also runs its G1 Epsom Handicap winner Hauraki (John O’Shea/Dwayne Dunn) who is expected to run another good race from barrier eight.

“He’s a horse who likes to find his feet and then come down the outside,” O’Shea said.

“He’s in wonderful form as he showed in the Epsom - and the form is standing up, there’s been two winners come out of that race.

“He’s had a great preparation, everything’s gone to plan and we’re very confident he’ll give a good account of himself.”