Godolphin owned Hartnell boasts a very impressive record with 11 wins and 13 minor places in his 37 career starts, including 2 Group 1 wins. The 7-year-old gelding however had only 1 victory in 2017, winning just 1 race in his last 11 starts.
Upon his arrival in Australia in 2015, Hartnell was primary ridden by now suspended jockey James McDonald, who steered the champion to both of his group 1 victories including The BMW at Randwick in 2015, and more recently the Turnbull Stakes in Spring last year at Flemington.
The last time James McDonald was on Hartnell was over 12 months ago in last years Melbourne Cup, where he was placed behind Almandin and Heartbreak City. A total of 7 different jockeys have ridden Hartnell since this time, steered by the same rider in consecutive races just once.
James Doyle was the first choice temporary replacement for McDonald, placing second on Hartnell in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick, 2.8L behind Winx early in February this year.
Just 2 weeks later, Hartnell was changed riders with Brenton Avdulla taking the reigns in the Group 1 Chipping Norton, in favour of his usual mount Lasqueti Spirit. Avdulla could only manage 8th out of 10 of Heavy 9 that time out.
Hartnell again changed riders for the third time in as many starts when William Buick jumped on for the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes in March, running 2nd on the $2.90 favorite, 3.3L behind noted marine animal Our Ivanhowe, this time on a Heavy 10. Buick had not ridden Hartnell since May 2014, when beaten by Snow Sky in a listed race at Lingfield in the United Kingdom.
James Doyle was back on for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in what would be the last time Hartnell would race under John O’Shea, with the Ranvet runner up again beaten by Winx, this time by 5.3L after sitting on pace for the journey.
The start of the James Cummings era also meant yet another Jockey for the 2016 Turnbull Stakes winner, this time renowned big race winner Craig Williams. It was a successful move, with Williams guiding Hartnell to victory in The Group 2 Lawrence Stakes over 1400m, beating Charmed Harmony and Black Heart Bart.
Without being in the giant shadow cast by Winx, many thought it would be a huge Spring Carnival for the veteran after a dominant first up victory, however another unprecedented jockey change for him was in store, as well as some big gambling losses following consecutive second-places in his next 2 runs.
This would be the first time since November 2016 Hartnell would be ridden by the same jockey 2 starts in a row, with Kerrin McEvoy aboard the one-time Melbourne Cup placed galloper when he swamped by Humidor in the Makybe Diva Stakes as $1.70 favorite, and then failing to catch Bonneval in the Underwood, this time a $2.10 favorite.
In yet another change in rider for Hartnell, he did not improve over more distance in the 2000m Group 1 Caulfield Stakes finishing 9th out of 11, 6L behind Gailo Chop, prior to ending the Spring in unusual fashion for the champion stayer, only beating 3 runners home in the Melbourne Cup, 28.65L behind Rekindling, where he was ridden by jockey number 7 for the year, Damien Lane.
James McDonald is due to return to racing midyear however his future with Godolphin is still in doubt, after parting ways with them after his suspension commenced.
“Godolphin agrees that there must be zero tolerance of any breaches of the prohibition on betting by a jockey,” a statement said.
“We will continue to support him throughout his suspension. His long term future with Godolphin will be reviewed in due course by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.”
