Hartnell to Melbourne, to miss Metropolitan

The G1 Metropolitan is off the agenda for in-form stayer Hartnell who will continue his Spring campaign in Melbourne.

Hartnell will leave Sydney for Godolphin’s Flemington stable on Wednesday after being allotted 58.5kg in the weights released on Tuesday for the G1 Metropolitan at Royal Randwick.

Trainer John O’Shea had initially favoured an attempt on the Randwick race but after a full assessment of the situation with the entire Godolphin team, it was decided to go straight to Melbourne.

Hartnell will now have his next run in the G1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m at weight-for-age at Flemington on October 2.

“The decision was made in consultation with the whole team here and abroad and it was decided to send Hartnell to the Turnbull Stakes,” O’Shea said.

Hartnell is also entered for the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, with a decision to come on which of those races he might tackle.

A runaway winner of his past two starts in Sydney, Hartnell is racing in the best form of his career and is regarded as the closest challenger to the champion filly Winx.

“All of the Spring features in Melbourne remain on the table and a decision will be made on a global basis that considers the locally-trained horses as well as those coming from overseas,” O’Shea said.

"We are excited about sending him to Melbourne and look forward to him running in the Turnbull next weekend."