Harntell is to resume in the PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield
Star galloper Hartnell is pleasing his new trainer ahead of his return to racing in Melbourne and will ramp up his preparations in a jump-out at Flemington.
Hartnell has won twice at Group One level in Australia but has also had to play second fiddle to champion Winx in other big races, most notably the $3 million Cox Plate and $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes during the 2016/17 season.
Hartnell, who turns seven on Tuesday, is likely to resume in the Group Two P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in mid-August and Godolphin’s new head trainer in Australia, James Cummings, said the gelding had settled in well since travelling from Sydney to Melbourne.
“He’s great,” Cummings told RSN927.
“He’s going to have a jump-out on Friday at Flemington and we will progress from there.
“I would like to think that we know what to expect from him in the jump-out and if he can continue to please us the way he has the last month, then I think we should be in for a good campaign.”
Cummings landed his first stakes winner as Godolphin trainer on Saturday when two-year-old Bandipur won the Listed Lightning Stakes in Adelaide.
