While a race for Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) without the presence of glamour mare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) is somewhat of a rarity these days, Godolphin appear to have their chance with their multiple Group 1 winner as the imposing 6-year-old is set to start a short-priced favourite in the G1 Ranvet S. (2000m), the first of five Group 1 races at Rosehill on Saturday.
If you look past his last-start failure when beaten nine-lengths by Winx in the G1 Chipping Norton S. on the heavy 9 rated track, Hartnell is almost assured victory, but with track conditions expected to be similar this coming Saturday there are some slight reasons for concern. With four of his wins at 2000 metres, including his most recent victory when successful over Jameka (Aus) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) in the Turnbull S. in the spring before his second to Winx in the Cox Plate, Hartnell will be ridden for the first time by William Buick, who is in Australia replacing the injured James Doyle.
Third-placed Stratum Star (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}) and fifth- placed The United States (Ire) (Galileo {Ire), who was a winner of the Ranvet 12 months prior, are both backing up from last week's G1 Australian Cup at Flemington, while the Group 1-winning mare Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) was a last start third at Group 1 level in New Zealand.
Not having started since the G1 Melbourne Cup in November, Lee and Anthony Freedman's Our Ivanhowe (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) will tackle the Ranvet fresh, and with victory in the G1 Doomben Cup over the trip in May, the 7-year-old stallion looks capable of being competitive.
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