By Dane Squance
Overhauled last start in the G1 Makybe Diva S. (1600m) by Darren Weir's Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}), Godolphin's MG1SW Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) looks ready to add Sunday's G1 Underwood S. (1800m) to his already impressive record. On a likely path to the Spring's Cups double, Hartnell is progressing very nicely and should be able to further strengthen his claims with another win here.
Having resumed in the G2 Feehan S. over 1600m at Moonee Valley with an impressive winning performance, dual Oaks-winning mare Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) is also likely to be heading towards the Cups as well, and with six wins from her nine starts, the last five consecutively from 1600m to 2400m, the Hugh Bowman ridden mare could cause a surprise if the favourite is having an off day.
A winner of the Underwood S. last year as well as the G1 CF Orr S. and G1 Futurity S (1600m) since, all at Caulfield, Black Heart Bart (Aus) (Blackfriars {Aus}) has been placed at all three runs this time in, and back on his favourite track he looks capable of recording back to back wins in the Group 1 contest, a feat not accomplished since the Champion Northerly (Aus) in 2001-2002. In the smallest field of any of the Australian Group 1 races conducted this weekend, many runners have a chance, and the Group 1-winning mare Single Gaze (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}) is one of those. Producing a sound effort when beaten five lengths by Humidor, and under two lengths from Hartnell in the Makybe Diva, while she will still appreciate further, the 1800m third-up should allow Kathy O'Hara to give the Nick Olive-trained mare a great chance in the $750,000 contest.
One at odds that could be an improver third time out is Team Hawkes' 4-year-old Group 1 winner Inference (Aus) (So You Think {Aus}, with a possible victory by the Dwayne Dunn-ridden entire set to emulate the 2010 Underwood victory of his sire.
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