Godolphin's dual Group 1 winner and perpetual Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) runner-up Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) is set to kick off the spring of his 6-year-old campaign in Caulfield's G2 PB Lawrence S. in two weeks' time. The bay partook in a Flemington jumpout on Friday under jockey Kerrin McEvoy that was won by the Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed mare Heatherly (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}), and trainer James Cummings told Racenet.com.au, “This was his only trial leading into the PB Lawrence in two weeks but I'm delighted with the horse and Kerrin said he was lovely and strong through the line. He was sprightly and happy within himself so he's right where we want him.”
Hartnell will make his first start for new Godolphin head trainer Cummings in the PB Lawrence, and will also have a new rider in the irons in McEvoy. Hartnell last saw the winner's enclosure in last October's G1 Turnbull S. but has been placed in Group 1 company four times in the interim, including a third in the Melbourne Cup and seconds behind Winx in the Cox Plate and Queen Elizabeth S., as well as the G2 Apollo S.
“Kerrin's been offered the horse and he will, rightly so, do the right thing by his clients and see where his availability will lie in the next few races the horse is targeting,” Cummings told Racenet. “We're mindful of placing him to advantage and if that is ultimately the [G1] Caulfield Cup we will not be afraid to take them on.”
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