With Winx resting back in her box at home, Saturday's $250,000 Group II Tatts Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick proved to be little more than a working gallop for Godolphin import Hartnell (GB).
Settled back in third place behind the pacesetting Storm The Stars and a fired up Prized Icon, Hartnell (GB) ambled to the front coming over the rise with James McDonald sitting motionless.
As fans mused over what might have been with Winx in the race, Hartnell (GB) hacked up by seven and three-quarter lengths over Grand Marshall who came from last to edge out Storm The Stars by a short-half-head. (photo Steve Hart).
The 5yo son of Authorized advances his overall record to 8 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third from 24 starts with earnings of $1,809,499.
It was his first win since defeating the Japanese raider To The World to win the $1.5 million The BMW at Rosehill back in March 2015.
"When he executes well he's a very effective horse,” O'Shea said.
"He executed really well today and James rode him beautifully as always.
"It's great to get him back to that form after a very indifferent spring and the slight injury in the autumn.
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Ideally we'd like to keep him in Sydney.”
O'Shea indicated the Hill Stakes then onto the Group I Metropolitan was the likely Sydney spring plan.
The 5yo gelding began his career in Britain with Mark Johnston for whom he won five races, including the Bahrain Trophy and Queen's Vase and was placed in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud.
A half-brother to Listed winner and Group 1 Newmarket Fillies' Mile runner-up Roz (Teofilo), Hartnell is out of the twice winning Anabaa mare Debonnaire whose stakes-placed dam Ultra Finesse (Rahy) is a half-sister to Prix de l”Arc de Triomphe, French Derby and Irish Champion Stakes winner Suave Dancer.