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Hartnell ready for challenge against Winx

Mike Hedge

The task of challenging Australia’s champion filly Winx has again fallen to Godolphin’s Hartnell in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, September 3.

Hartnell led the pack in pursuit of Winx when they began their Spring campaigns in the G2 Warwick Stakes at Randwick on August 20 and over a trip well short of his best, the son of Authorized did an outstanding job to get as close as he did.

With the fitness gained from that run, Hartnell (John O’Shea/James McDonald) goes into his latest assignment as the one most likely to threaten.

“I couldn’t be happier with him, he’s made nice improvement since his first-up run,” said trainer John O’Shea.

“The wet track won’t be a problem for him and the mile is more to his liking than the seven last start.”

As much as O’Shea is expecting another bold run from Hartnell, he is looking to longer races later in the season for the gelding who will aim to run next in the Hill Stakes over 2000m (10 furlongs) at Randwick on September 17.

Hartnell was a Listed winner at Royal Ascot and a G3 winner at Newmarket before coming to Australia where O’Shea prepared him to win the G1 BMW. The ultimate goal of his current campaign is the G1 Metropolitan at Randwick on October 1.

The Derby placegetter Hauraki (John O’Shea/James McDonald) will use the G2 Tramway Stakes at Randwick to begin a Spring campaign which is aimed at some of Melbourne’s staying features.

“It’ll be good to get him started, although the wet track won’t be ideal. He’s only had one trial and he’s a bit big and a bit fresh,” O’Shea said.

“We’re looking for him to have a nice day out and lay a good foundation for the rest of the Spring.”

In the same race, the imported middle-distance runner It’s Somewhat (John O’Shea/Tim Clark) begins a campaign that will take him initially to the G3 Craven Plate at Randwick on October 1.

“He’s still quite big in condition but he loves the ground,” O’Shea said.

“I think he’ll be effective enough, it’ll be good just to get him started again.”

Also at Randwick, O’Shea entered Federal (James McDonald) and Sarajevo (Brenton Avdulla) in the G3 Concorde Stakes, although the latter’s appearance is in doubt if the track remains rain-affected.

Chipanda (James McDonald) is first-up in the G2 Furious Stakes, a race in which she is opposed to a strong field of fillies, most of whom have the benefit of recent racing.