The John O’Shea trained Hartnell has been allocated the top weight of 58kg for the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 1, day one of ‘The Championships’.
Hartnell, above, has been given the top weight of 58kg for the 2017 Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Hartnell has had one run back for the Autumn Carnival for a second to Winx in Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 13 and is due to take on Chris Waller’s super star again in the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The six year old gelding is also nominated for the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick a week after the Doncaster Mile on the day two of ‘The Championships’.
Hartnell was racing in outstanding form during the 2016 Spring Carnival and made it a hat trick of wins with his victory in the Group 1 $500,000 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 2.
The English import then went on to run second to Winx in the Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley before finishing third behind Almandin and Heartbreak City in the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Hartnell is marked as a $15 chance for the Doncaster Mile with Ladbrokes.com.au while stablemate Harauki with 56kg heads the market order at $10 with the Chris Waller trained three year filly Omei Sword who is weighed on 49kg.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Group 1 winning three year old filly Global Glamour is weighted on 51kg but is guaranteed a start after winning the ballet exempt Group 1 $500,000 Sydney Airport Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick during the 2016 Spring Carnival and is listed as s $15 chance.
Also exempt from the ballot for the Doncaster Mile is the Kris Lees trained Sense Of Occasion who won the Group 2 $250,000 Inglis Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on December 17.
The Darren Weir trained Black Heart Bart ($17) is well up in the weights with 57kg and has hit form early in the 2017 Autumn Carnival with a win in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 11.
Sprinting star Chautauqua has been a late inclusion in the nominations for the Doncaster Mile after running on late first up when third to Super Cash in the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Rubiton Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on February 11 and Team Hawkes are thinking that the big grey might be looking for a journey longer than the sprinting distances.
Chautauqua has been installed a $13 chance for the Doncaster Mile and is also still included as the $6 favourite for the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on the same day.
Early market order for The Star Doncaster Mile at Ladbrokes.com.au: $10 Hauraki, Omei Sword, $11 Endless Drama, Le Romain, $13 Chautauqua, Comin’ Through, McCreey, $15 Astern, Divine Prophet, Mackintosh, Seaburge, $17 Black Heart Bart, $21 Man From Uncle, He’s Our Rokkii, Morton’s Fork, $26 or more the rest.
