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...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Melbourne Cup Dreaming for Kiwi Stayer
Peter and Shaun McKay are dreaming of a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) tilt with their quality stayer Wolfgang, and he will start his journey towards the iconic feature at Wanganui on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Thursday August 28
Here is the full list of 33 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tara Talks Racing – Stallion Parades, Old Legends and a Weekend Tip
We’re back in podcast land as the spring unfolds with plenty to talk about following our recent run of visits to the stallion parades, so what stallions did we like?
Sire Power Highlights Quality MM Horses in Training Catalogue
An incredible selection of the country's best proven and hottest young sires will feature at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale in October.
G1 Plan for Kiwi Sprinter Niance
Six-year-old mare Niance will kick off a new campaign when she lines up in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on Saturday week.
Sir Stanley Goosman’s Impact on the National Yearling Sale
Karaka 2026 will mark the 100th National Yearling Sale in New Zealand, and a prominent buyer during the history of the Sale was Stanley Goosman (later Sir Stanley).  He was a key player at the Sale during the World War II era, and headed the list of winning owners in New Zealand on 10 occasions.
Up and Coming Well Named - So Who Are These Guys?
The $250,000 Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday is a race well named with a field of eight colts and geldings set to line up and while none are stakes-winners yet, one of them will be after the weekend.
Spring Trial Watch – Everest Contenders on Show
The Rosehill trials on Thursday morning featured a couple of key Everest contenders with Private Harry winning easily over speedy 3YO North England, while Lady Shenandoah was under a tight grip to finish third in a later heat.
Promising Winner and a Star on the Rise
One of the bargain priced sires on the Newgate Farm roster, Cosmic Force has never lacked for company covering 100 plus books of mares in each of his five seasons at stud so far totalling nearly 700 mares.