Stakes success for Pearls as Hartnell makes promising return

A G3 victory went to the filly Pearls and a G1 promise was made by the resuming stayer Hartnell as Godolphin’s Australian team got into its Spring stride at Randwick on Saturday, August 20.

For Pearls (John O’Shea/Brenton Avdulla), success in the G3 Toy Show Quality suggested fulfilment of the potential she showed in her first two seasons of racing could be forthcoming.

“She had worked very well at home before this and it was very satisfying for the whole team to see her produce it at the races,” said her trainer John O’Shea.

“That was a wonderful ride, there was a bit of a query about whether she would get into the right spot from the soft draw, but Brenton got her positioned and she was too good for them.”

Pearls won by a half-neck from Dixie Blossoms with a further-length to Elle Lou in third place.

The daughter of Exceed And Excel, already a G2 winner last season, is likely to attempt another win at that level in the Golden Pendant at Rosehill next month.

Pearls may have gathered the stable’s major win for the day, but the former English-trained stayer Hartnell (John O’Shea/James McDonald) produced a performance that suggested a top-level awaits him during the coming Spring carnival when he finished second in the G2 Warwick Stakes.

While all eyes at Randwick were undoubtedly on Australia’s champion filly Winx who strolled to her 10th successive win in the Warwick Stakes, no-one missed Hartnell steaming into second place over a 1400m trip that is well short of his best.

“He was fantastic, that’s the real Hartnell,” said the six-year-old’s enthused rider James McDonald.

“He’s right on track, he’s come back in unreal shape.”

The winner of the G1 Metropolitan at Randwick 12 months ago, Hartnell’s Autumn campaign was cut short by a minor injury. But he showed he has made a full recovery.

“It was very satisfying for everyone in the stable to see him run so well,” O’Shea said.

“He’s heading toward another Metropolitan and that was a great first step along that track.”

Hartnell is likely to run next over the 1600m of the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on September 3.

As much as the efforts of Hartnell and Pearls stood out, the performance of the inexperienced three-year-old Retaliation (John O’Shea/Jeff Penza) to win his second race from as many starts in a non-graded event at Kembla Grange also provided considerable satisfaction for the stable.