Hartnell shines in the fog at Flemington

Darryl Sherer - Friday August 4

Flemington may have been shrouded in fog but trainer James Cummings was still pleased with the jumpout effort of Hartnell at Flemington on Friday.

Advertisement
Hartnell returning from his jumpout. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Hartnell was in heat one over 800m on the inside grass, won by the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Heatherly according to jockeys with fog covering the Smithfield Road side of the course, and after chatting with jockey Kerrin McEvoy Cummings was a happy trainer.

"This was his only trial leading into the PB Lawrence (Stakes) in two weeks but I'm delighted with the horse and Kerrin said he was lovely and strong through the line," Cummings said.

"He was sprightly and happy within himself so he's right where we want him."

Cummings confirmed McEvoy had been offered the ride on Hartnell during the spring.

"Kerrin's been offered the horse and he will, rightly so, do the right thing by his clients and see where his availability will lie in the next few races the horse is targeting," Cummings said.

"We're mindful of placing him to advantage and if that is ultimately the Caulfield Cup we will not be afraid to take them on.

"The horse is seven now and a little while out of the winners circle - the opposition in Melbourne is not going to be easy.

"The early part of the spring we've got worked out on paper, he'll run in the PB Lawrence then the Makybe Diva Stakes here at Flemington which he will be very well suited in and then we'll plot a path from there."

Black Caviar's daughter Oscietra trialled later in the morning and showed her customary early speed to just shade the Cummings-trained Viking Raid in heat 11.

Lindsay Park Racing had its usual busy morning with Group I-winners Redkirk Warrior running in heat one, Vega Magic finishing second in heat three and Sheidel winning heat six.

Co-trainer David Hayes was a happy man after the early heats.

" Sheidel went like a bomb and I'm very happy with Redkirk Warrior and Vega Magic," Hayes said.

"I'm thinking the Bobbie Lewis (Stakes) first-up for Redkirk Warrior and the Regal Roller Stakes for Vega Magic.

"There looks a nice race for Sheidel on Memsie (Stakes) day at Caulfield."

The fog lifted after heat three with more details to follow later.

 
Advertisment
More Reading...
Spring Trial Watch – Caulfield
With a plethora of Group racing for colts and geldings last weekend and fillies to take centre stage Sydney on Saturday for the Group II ATC Furious Stakes it was interesting to see a Caulfield trial on Tuesday morning that featured six stakes-winning 3YO’s.
Zoustar 7YO Chasing G1 for Cambridge Stud
South Africa will tackle the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday night and earlier in the day a horse named after one of their favourite sons will be vying for Group One glory down the road at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Tara Talks Racing - We Chat with the Breeder of Raging Force
The Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes was won last Saturday by exciting Cosmic Force gelding Raging Force, so this week we’re chatting to his breeder Dr Richard McClenahan of Mullaglass Stud, who has a self-confessed ‘mare addiction’!
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 2
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Five Lots Announced for Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale
Tattersalls Online, Europe’s leading online thoroughbred sales platform, will break new ground when offering for auction five lots who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown Racecourse earlier this week. The sale which takes place on 3rd – 4th September can be viewed on the Tattersalls Online website www.tattersallsonline.com.
Vale, G1 winning horseman Tony Dennis
A member of one of New Zealand racing’s most famous and successful families has died, with the recent passing of Tony (Anthony) Dennis, aged 86.
Waller Stable Hold the Key to Melbourne Cup
Champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller has 27 of the 120 entries for this year’s $10million Melbourne Cup, which equates to more than 20 per cent of the total, so it’s probably worth having a closer look at them.
First Foals for Lofty Strike
One of the most interesting young stallions that we saw on the recent Victorian stud tour was at Swettenham Stud and it has not taken long for the big baldy face of Lofty Strike to find it’s way on to one of his first foals.
Winning Debut for Blueblood Frankel Filly
We usually associate the Mark Walker stable with the tangerine colours of Te Akau racing, but it was John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds colours in the frame for the astute Kiwi trainer trainer at Benalla on Tuesday carried by blueblood Frankel filly Chateau Eze.
Sires With Winners - Monday September 1
Here is the full list of 22 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.