Dubai: Godolphin are hoping that a change in tactics will bring out the best in Hartnell when he has a third crack at the A$6 million (Dh16.9 million) Melbourne Cup, the glittering centrepiece of Australian racing, which takes place at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday.

The Darley-bred son of Authorized finished third behind Almandin in the 3,200-metre contest last year, having previously run 15th to 100/1 outsider Prince of Penzance in 2015.

Hartnell will have his first start for trainer James Cummings in the iconic race which Godolphin have been attempting to win since 1998.

Hartnell was only Wednesday given the go ahead by Godolphin founder His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to contest the race.

And, despite being a 50/1 outsider, Cummings believes the seven-year-old galloper is a deserving Cup contender.

“To have a Melbourne Cup runner for Shaikh Mohammad is a great honour and is also a credit to our team here in Australia who have got Hartnell to a level where he is a genuine contender,” Cummings said in a Godolphin announcement.

“He’s been racing a bit like a handicapper at his last couple of starts and the form around him is very strong.”

Hartnell won the 2014 Queen’s Vase over 3200m when previously trained by Mark Johnston in the UK and Cummings said: “We are going to the Cup with a horse who puts himself into his races, whose form is sound and who can run 3,200 metres.”

The trainer also revealed that he has changed things around a bit in the build-up to Tuesday’s showpiece.

“The form from the Makybe Diva Stakes and the Underwood Stakes and Caulfield Stakes in which he’s run well has been the best of the spring.

“He only had a 12-day break between those runs after racing in the Cox Plate. This time he’s got a nice gap between runs, which, I think, will do him a lot of good.

“I’m going to have him nice and fresh going into the race.”

Hartnell worked over 1600m on Tuesday morning, pleasing Cummings and Melbourne Cup jockey Damian Lane.

“I was delighted with him, Damian thought he felt great, he’s nice and bright and alert,” the trainer said.

Meanwhile, Godolphin received a Melbourne Cup boost when Qewy, who was fourth last year, won the Group 3 Bendigo Cup on Wednesday.

The winner 12 months ago of the Group 3 Geelong Cup and the Listed Sandown Cup, Qewy broke the 2,400m track record in his half-neck defeat of Kiwia.

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, currently based at Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup, watched Qewy’s win on a mobile phone in a San Diego restaurant.

“It’s a great credit to our team, who have travelled down to Melbourne, and full credit to Qewy himself, who is such a tough, reliable campaigner,” he said.

“I understand they have run a track record, or close to it, so he will have had a hard race.

“We won’t be in any hurry about deciding on the G1 Melbourne Cup. Let’s see how he has come out of this. I will discuss it with His Highness Sheikh Mohammad in the next 48 hours,” Appleby added.

Interesting fact

Around 25 per cent of Melbourne Cups have been won by horses ridden by jockeys wearing blue silks. Godolphin’s racing silks are Royal Blue.

Latest odds

Melbourne Cup (G1)

Tuesday, November 7

Almandin (13/2); Marmelo (8); Humidor (9); Johannes Vermeer (10); Wall Of Fire (12); Red Cardinal (14); Hartnell (50/1)

Max Dynamite (20); Rekindling (20); Thomas Hobson (20)