As expected, Hartnell defeated five overmatched opponents in Saturday's Group II Hill Stakes (2000m) at Randwick with the minimum of fuss, but it was the ease of the win that saw bookmakers promote the Godolphin import to
After trotting up by seven and three-quarter lengths in the Group II Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick two weeks back, Hartnell had little more worries here.
With James McDonald sitting motionless, the son of Authorized went to the line with ears pricked, five and three-quarter lengths to the good of Who Shot Thebarman ($21) with a further one and
Winner of five races in Great Britain, including the Bahrain Trophy and Queen's Vase and placed in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud when trained by Mark Johnston, Hartnell advances his record to 9 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third from 25 starts with earnings of $1,931,499.
Winning trainer John O'Shea refused to get carried away despite the ease of the win.
"I think you have to put everything in perspective. He was very good but I don't know if he had too much to do. Maybe the opposition was a little bit flat,” trainer John O'Shea said.
"But he's put together two nice performances now and is in a good frame of mind.”
While bookies tightened Hartness to the third line of betting in the Cox Plate, O'Shea said the Group I Caulfield Cup (2400m) was Hartnell's "best chance of winning a Group I this season.”
"But Caulfield can be a bit firm and he doesn't like that really rock hard ground so there are a lot of things to take into account,” O'Shea added.
"We would like to keep him in Sydney for as long as he could because he gets the wonderful advantage of being at Osborne Park and the team that look after him there.
"There's a lot to discuss.”
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.