Dubai: In six previous meetings Godolphin’s Hartnell has had to play second fiddle to the brilliant Australian mare Winx but that has not stopped trainer John O’Shea from having another go at a horse who is only second to the American superstar Arrogate in the world rankings.
The occasion is Saturday’s Group 1 A$4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick Racecourse, the richest race of the Sydney Autumn Carnival and the richest weight-for-age race in Australia.
The closest that Hartnell has got to Winx in their six meetings is 2-3/4 lengths when she was second to her in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes over 1400 metres at Randwick, last February
However, Godolphin’s head Australian trainer John O’Shea put Hartnell’s chances of reversing the trend by saying: “Obviously, Hartnell has to take on Winx, but he will run the best race of his preparation.
“We’re very happy, he’s been set for one race and he really looks to be coming to a nice peak.”
Prior to the Apollo, Hartnell, a six-year-old son of former Derby winner Authorized, has won the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes and finished a creditable third behind Almandin in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
Winx, meanwhile, has won two more races, the latest when she stormed home by 7-3/4 lengths in the Group 1 Ryder Stakes three weeks ago for her 15th successive victory and 11th at Group 1 level.
O’Shea took heart from Hartnell’s last career victory, in the Turnbull Stakes, in assessing his chances ahead of Saturday’s big race.
“Most importantly for him, gate one is a nice gate because if you go back to his Turnbull Stakes performance where he rolled along behind the speed, he should be able to get some cover and box seat,” he said.
Winx is a red-hot 1-10 favourite to win with Hartnell an 8-1 second favourite. Other notable contenders include The United Stakes (12-1), Happy clapper (16-1) and Exospheric.
Exospheric (40); Sense Of Occasion (100) Harlem (125); No Doubt (250) and Singing (250) complete the field.
