Impressive first-up record gives Hartnell hope in G1 All Aged Stakes

The versatility and unquestionable talent of Hartnell will be called on for another G1 attempt when he runs in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, 21 April.

Trainer James Cummings is relying on the trend Hartnell has shown in previous campaigns where his first few runs have been his best.

The most recent example was in the G1 CF Orr Stakes last February when he beat Single Gaze over the same 1400m distance of Saturday’s race.

The previous spring he won the G2 PB Lawrence Stakes first-up and before that, in February last year, he finished second when first-up behind Winx in the G2 Apollo Stakes, also at 1400m.

“We gave him a six week break and he looks nice and fresh coming into this race, which is how we wanted him to be,” Cummings said.

“He had a nice blowout in a barrier trial and he seems to have come on again for a race that looks like it’s going to contain plenty of pressure.”

Cummings is also looking forward to Hartnell getting back to Randwick where he has run some of his best races, most notably his last appearance at the track when second to Winx 12 months ago.

“He’s in good shape and it would be satisfying to see him get back into the form that he was in when he beat Brave Smash first-up in the Orr Stakes,” Cummings said.

As well as potentially providing Hartnell with his fifth G1 win, the All Aged Stakes would take the racetrack earnings of the Australian stable’s biggest money earner past A$5 million.

Cummings also plans to run It’s Somewhat in the All Aged, who like Hartnell began his career in the UK. It will be his first run since he finished fifth in the G1 Kingston Town Classic in Perth in December.

“He comes to this after a solid preparation last time in where he ran two weight-for-age placings in the spring,” Cummings said.

“He’s had a couple of solid hit-outs prior to this first-up run and this shouldn’t be far below his most comfortable trip. We feel he can run quite a cheeky race.”

“His work has been very good and his first-up record isn’t bad, so I can see him running a pretty interesting race.”