Dubai: Hartnell will shoulder weight of 55.5 kilograms as he bids to give Godolphin a long sought-after maiden victory in the $6 million (Dh22.03 million) Emirates Airline Melbourne Cup (G1), the richest two-mile handicap in the world.
Formerly raced by Mark Johnston in England, the four-year-old son of 2007 Epsom Derby ((G1) victory Authorized has won two out of four starts in Australia since he was transferred to John O’Shea’s stables in Randwick.
Hartnell is the joint second favourite with British hope Snow Sky who was allocated the top weight of 58 kilograms together with last year’s winner Protectionist when the official weights for the November 3 showpiece were released on Tuesday.
O’Shea, who was appointed Godolphin trainer in 2014, has also short-listed Hauraki, Havana Cooler and Magic Hurricane for the ‘Race that stops the Nation.’
In addition, Godolphin have a handful of British-trained entries led by recent winner Wadi Al Hattawi, lining up for a trip Down Under. Racing Victoria Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter gave the Saeed Bin Surour-trainee a tidy weight of 50.5 kilograms together with Sky Hunter (54 kg), Secret Number (52.5 kg) Elhaame (50 kg) and Hidden Gold (50 kg).
However, none of them have been confirmed as runners with seven internationally trained gallopers led by Protectionist more or less assured of a passage to Melbourne.
Snow Sky will be among the first shipment of overseas horses to touch down in Australia together with Ed Dunlop’s three-time Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux and stablemate Trip To Paris, Max Dynamite, Quest For More and Japanese pair Hokko Brave and 10-1 favourite Fame Game.
Aidan O’Brien is also mulling his options as is Michael Bell who looks set to be represented by Big Orange.
“We’re a fair way down the path to at least getting 10 runners in the Cup that are internationally trained,” Racing Victoria’s executive general manager of racing Greg Carpenter said after releasing the weights.
“We don’t strive to break numbers or records — it’s just wherever horses are trained we are interested in getting the best possible field.
“When you consider there are only two staying races that are group 1s beyond 2400 metres in England we have the trifecta and first and third. And we’ve also got the winner of the only Irish race beyond 2400 metres that’s a group 1.
“We’ve got the best we can assemble and as far as the depth of that quality, it is [the strongest overseas contingent we’ve had],” Carpenter said.
First acceptances for the Melbourne Cup will close at 12 noon on Tuesday, October 6.
