Some enthralling finishes captivated crowds through a bumper Group 1 program at Randwick on Saturday headlined by Hartnell winning the Epsom Handicap.
Nine races, all of which were stakes races bar one were conducted at Randwick on Saturday spearheaded by the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).
For the second time in three years, it was the Godolphin Blue silks that reigned supreme courtesy of the versatile Hartnell.
The UK import returned to Sydney after commencing his prep well in Melbourne contesting the PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m).
A multiple Group 1 winner, Hartnell was ideally placed in a race which on paper possessed four genuine weight for age types with D’Argento, Unforgotten and Pierata the others.
Weights of the prestigious handicap were noticeably compressed with only a 4kg spread and a majority of the class runners (Bar Pierata) capitalised.
Hartnell was positioned ideally by Hugh Bowman, settled midfield one off the fence on the outside of a main rival in D’Argento.
The son of Authorized was moved off heels on straightening while D’argento had found clear running after staying close to the inside.
D’Argento hit the front 200m from home with Hartnell in pursuit.
The pair drew clear of their nearest rivals with Hartnell prevailing by a slender margin over D’Argento with Unforgotten closing well into third.
Hartnell delivered a Timeform rating of 125 for the win, two pounds shy of Happy Clapper in 2017 who boasts the highest winning figure of the race since Filante (1996).
It continues the latest trend of Epsom winners having their final lead up runs at Weight For Age level after Hauraki and Happy Clapper each placed in the George Main Stakes.
It remains to be seen which direction James Cummings will go with Hartnell for the rest of the spring however there are options available to him in both Sydney and Melbourne for Hartnell’s next start.
The Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick or the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) both on October 13 profile as suitable options for the stable stalwart.
Whilst the Caulfield Stakes is worth twice as much money, it is likely to attract a far stronger field as evidenced by its past handful of winners - genuine spring feature race players, Atlantic Jewel (2013), Fawkner (2014), Criterion (2015), Winx (2016) and Gailo Chop (2017).
Sydney’s Craven Plate was upgraded in 2017 as part of The Everest Day program.
It is now worth an impressive $500,000 which was essentially stolen last year by Classic Uniform with a performance given a Timeform rating of 115, modest in comparison to the current five year winning average of the Caulfield Stakes which sits at 126.
A Group 1 Day in Sydney doesn’t go by without Chris Waller being well represented.
The leading Sydney trainer endured narrow defeats in both the Epsom Handicap and the Flight Stakes with Fiesta however celebrated a Group 1 quinella in The Metropolitan (2400m).
Waller saddled up almost half the Metropolitan field, a race he had won twice previously courtesy of The Verminator (2011) and Opinion (2014).
From barrier 4, Patrick Erin was able to settle midfield as his well fancied stablemate Brimham Rocks was forced to work early from a wide gate to take up a forward spot.
Brimham Rocks struck the front 300m from home and held his challengers at bay until Patrick Erin collared the favourite in the shadows of the post.
Patrick Erin and Brimham Rocks returned Timeform ratings of 111 and 110 respectively.
Chris Waller has an abundance of options for his Metropolitan runners moving forward and suggested Patrick Erin could remain in Sydney for the $500,000 St Leger Stakes (2600m), another lucrative race held on Everest Day won last year by Big Duke.
It took ten starts however Oohood finally shed her maiden tag in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m).
A Group 1 placegetter in the Blue Diamond Stakes, the Golden Slipper and the Sires’ Produce as a two-year-old, the Flight Stakes was an overdue and deserved top level victory for Tony McEvoy’s consistent filly.
Attempting the Flight Stakes/Thousand Guineas double is the logical path for most winners of the Flight Stakes.
Guelph in 2013 and Global Glamour in 2016 each claimed the double.
Following the Flight Stakes however, Tony McEvoy suggested he will be aiming the daughter of I Am Invincible up against the boys in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, a race which is largely expected to be dominated by The Autumn Sun.
Oohood’s Flight Stakes performance returned a Timeform rating of 114, down on both her master figure of 117 achieved when second to Estijaab in the Golden Slipper and also the 120+ Caulfield Guineas favourite The Autumn Sun returned when winning the Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 22.
Randwick played host to other impressive displays even outside of the three Group 1’s conducted through the afternoon.
Santa Ana Lane worked further into Everest calculations by winning the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m), running a pound below his master Timeform rating of 124 achieved claiming the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) last year.
The remaining Group 2 on the card was claimed by Ace High who was well supported and ran accordingly in the Hill Stakes (2000m).
Saturday’s Hill Stakes was the High Chaparral entire’s first win as an older horse.
Assessed at 122 it is considered a career best display for the David Payne-trained stayer who will now head to Melbourne for his next start in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 20.
The last horse to claim the Hill Stakes/Caulfield Cup double was Descarado, another son of High Chaparral in 2010.
