Hartnell and Osborne Bulls shape up for spring at Caulfield

If an ability to reproduce the same racing pattern year-after-year carries any weight, then Hartnell has a second-to-none chance in Saturday’s G2 PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.

The veteran son of Authorized has begun his past four preparations with exceptional performances in races over the 1,400m trip of the PB Lawrence.

Last autumn Hartnell (Craig Williams) kicked off with victory in the G1 CF Orr Stakes at Caulfield and his previous campaign started with a win in the 2017 renewal of Saturday’s race.

In February 2017 he finished a first-up second in the G2 Apollo Stakes and in August 2016 he resumed with a second in the G2 Warwick Stakes, both times behind the champion mare Winx.

“He’s going down a well-tried path,” said trainer James Cummings.

“He may be an eight-year-old now, but he’s young at heart and he’s still enjoying himself.

“From what he’s shown us, he’s ready to run another nice race fresh.

“It looks to be a strong edition of the PB Lawrence, but that’s what we thought last year, and he beat them comfortably.”  

In last year’s Lawrence, Hartnell had five G1 winners behind him, including Black Heart Bart and Humidor, who he meets again on Saturday. First-up in last season’s Orr Stakes he was chased home by multiple G1 winner Single Gaze and the good Japanese horse Brave Smash.

Hartnell has won four G1 races since shipping to Australia in 2014 as the winner of four races in England.

As well as winning eight races here, he has run into Winx on seven occasions, finishing second to her four times. He’s also been placed in two of Australia’s most coveted races, the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate.

In preparation for his first-up assignment, he finished under a hold in fifth place in a barrier trial behind stablemate Alizee with Winx just ahead of him.

Hartnell will be joined at Caufield by the comparative newcomer Osborne Bulls who runs in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes.

Osborne Bulls (Craig Williams) begins his latest campaign with lofty ambitions and a record of seven wins and three placings from his 10 starts.

Cummings said he was hoping the five-year-old son of Street Cry could earn himself a start in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on September 22.     

“We tried to sneak into a Group 1 with him in the Stradbroke Handicap but he just missed the field, so it’s clear that we have an opinion of him,” Cummings said.