Hartnell Turns In Strong Randwick Trial

The seasoned campaigner Hartnell and classics candidates Shards and Ambience suggested they are ready for strong Autumn campaigns on a busy morning of barrier trials for Godolphin's Australian stable at Randwick on Friday, January 29.

In what was clearly the best of the day's 20 trials, Hartnell indicated he was progressing toward the form that won him the G1 BMW at last year's Autumn carnival.

The son of Authorized, who came to Australia as the winner of a Listed race at Royal Ascot and a Group 3 at Newmarket, was one of six Group 1 winners in the trial, most of them sprinters.

As expected, he didn't have the pace to go with them early, but cruised into midfield late in the gallop, finishing fifth behind last year's G1 Golden Slipper runner-up English.

"That was his first trial since the G1 Melbourne Cup and he did as much as we wanted him to," said trainer John O'Shea.

"He didn't have to be pushed, he did it by himself. It was a good trial."

Hartnell is likely to have at least one more trial before resuming, possibly in the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm on February 27.

Shards and Ambience turned in similar performances in their trial finishing fifth and seventh respectively, their runs suggesting they will be worthy classics contenders.

A Group 3 winner last Spring, Shards also finished second in the G3 Vase at Moonee Valley before his ninth in the G1 Victoria Derby.

O'Shea says the Medaglia d'Oro colt has made good progress since then and impressed in his trial.

"He's another one who only needed to do what he did in the trial. I was pleased with him and I'd say he's on track," he said.

Ambience, who made the transition from maiden class to Group 2 winner in the Spring has also impressed O'Shea since returning to work.

"She's bigger and stronger, she looks great and I was happy with how she went today," O'Shea said.

"Last time in she made a lot of progress and ended up being placed in the Oaks in Melbourne, so we're looking forward to getting her out to her right distance again."

Among Godolphin's other triallers, the filly Ghisoni ran up to her good race form with a soft win in her 1,030m heat and Pearls, a Group 2 winner from the Spring, showed she was on track running a nice second in a trial in which stablemate Mogador was equally impressive finishing fifth.

In another busy set of trials next week, the high-class colt Exosphere is due to appear on Friday, February 5 in his second trial in preparation for his return to racing in the G1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington on February 20.