Hard To look Beyond Hartnell

A familiar group of middle distance performers will do battle in Sunday's Turnbull S. at Flemington with Godolphin's Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) looking primed to register a second top level success. John O'Shea's 5-year-old has been in sparkling form his last two starts and is seeking a group race hat trick following his wide margin victories in the G2 Chelmsford S. at Randwick Sept. 3 and the G2 Ascend Sales Trophies Hill S. at the same course two weeks later. “He came out of the Chelmsford Stakes bouncing. He won it in a hand canter, said O'Shea about Hartnell. “There's due to be a bit of rain around in Melbourne later in the week which would suit him,” he added. In the Chelmsford Hartnell had Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), surprisingly Chris Waller's only representative on Sunday, 8 lengths behind but a more prominent showing is expected on Sunday from this four time Group 1 winner. The Ciaron Maher trained Jameka (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) proved her well-being recently when beating classy stayer Gallante (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in the G3 Foundation Cup at Caulfied Sept. 17 when she also had her re-opposing barnmate Set Square (Aus) Reset {Aus}) well held back in fourth. As a previous Group 1 winner she deserves automatic respect. The former Aidan O'Brien trained The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) should show the benefit of his seasonal debut when sixth in the G2 Dato' Tan Chin Nam S. at Moonee Valley Sept. 3 and his form last year, which included a Group 1 success over Hauraki (Aus) (Reset {Aus}) in the Ranvet S. at Rosehill brings him right into the reckoning.