Strong winds see Hartnell break 14 year old track record in winning Epsom Handicap
And while the blustery conditions made it quite unpleasant for spectators, the day’s racing delivered some seemingly astonishing times and some noteworthy performances, headed by the eight-year-old Hartnell.
Freshened by trainer James Cummings and focused on shorter trips, Hartnell returned to the winner’s list for the first time since February in scoring a narrow but game win under his 57 kilogram top weight in a time of 1:32.73 for the 1600 metre journey.
That took 0.4 seconds off Ike’s Dream‘s (King Of Kings) course record of 1:33.13 which she established in winning the 2004 Villiers Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m).
Hartnell was ridden quietly by Hugh Bowman back in eighth place, tracking a fast tempo set by the noted front-runner Arbeitsam (Snitzel) who clocked a very fast 56.19 for the 1000 metres (from the 1400m to the 400m).
Arbeitsam was overtaken on passing the 200 metres, firstly by D’Argento (So You Think) and then by Hartnell who put in a well-timed bid.
After a keen battle, Hartnell gamely defeated his younger rival, whom he conceded 3.5 kilograms, by a half head with Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock) running on for third, just under a length further back.
Sectional times naturally were impressive with Hartnell being clocked to run fast times with his final 1400 metres in 1:19.04, last 1200 metres in 1:08.26, last 1000 metres in 56.92, last 800 metres in 45.35, last 600 metres in 33.80 with his final 400 metres in 22.37.
The runner-up D’Argento clocked 56.97 for his last 1000 metres, 45.55 for his last 800 metres, 34.01 for his last 600 metres and 22.74 for his final 400 metres.
The ATC Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Unforgotten came from 12th at the 1000 metre point to finish third, clocking 56.66 for that section, then 45.08 (last 800m), 33.39 (last 600m) with her final 400 metres in 22.16.
Meanwhile, Group 1 winning mare Shillelagh (Savabeel), a Chris Waller-trained stablemate of the aforementioned D’Argento and Unforgotten, indicated that she is peaking at the right time despite now being a seven-year-old.
Having her second ran back, Shillelagh caught the eye in finishing strongly from 16th at the 1000 metres, clocking 56.47 for that section, then: 44.88 (last 800m), 33.17 (last 600m) and 21.08 for her final 400 metres – the fastest closing sectionals of the race.
The other track record performance of the day was recorded by the Anthony Freedman-trained Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega) with his late-closing victory in the Premiere Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), in what was a great lead-up to Saturday week’s $13million The Everest (1200m).
Ridden back in the field as usual, Santa Ana Lane tracked a very fast tempo set by last year’s inaugural Everest winner Redzel (Snitzel) that saw that sprinter clock 43.19 for his 800 metre mid-race section (from the 1000m to the 200m).
Redzel was having his first run since a training setback and after clocking such a fast time, he tired over the latter stages (eventually finishing sixth) as the late-closers fought out the finish.
Victory going to Santa Ana Lane by a head from his stablemate Shoals (Fastnet Rock) with In Her Time (Time Thief) a close-up third.
Time for the race was 1:07.45 which took 0.58 seconds off Anatola’s (More Than Ready) track record that she established earlier this year.
Again sectional times were impressive with Santa Ana Lane clocking 53.73 for his last 1000m, 43.19 (last 800m), 32.64 (last 600m) and 21.57 for his final 400 metres.
The runner-up Shoals clocked 53.83 for her last 1000 metres, 43.15 (last 800m), 32.52 (last 600m) and 21.50 for her final 400 metres.
While third-placed In Her Time, resuming for new trainer Kris Lees, clocked 53.85 for her last 1000 metres, 43.56 (last 800m), 32.95 (last 600m) with her final 400 metres in 21.95.
All horses appear to be going well as they head to the Everest, a race that now sees a very open betting market with no pronounced favourite.
Other horses to impress on the watch at Randwick included last year’s Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Ace High (High Chaparral) who came off a strong mid-race pace to comfortably win the Hill Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) in a time of 2:02.57.
A feature of Ace High’s victory was the way he responded when Hugh Bowman took Who Shot Thebarman (Yamanin Vital) to the front on passing the 1200 metres, abruptly lifting what had been a pedestrian early tempo.
That saw the pace increase significantly with Ace High, who came from back in fourth place at the 1000 metres clocking a very fast 56.29 for that final section in his impressive win, with a timely boost to his prospects in the upcoming Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m).
The other winner to stage a strong effort on the watch was the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly Catch Me (I Am Invincible) who put up an excellent performance on debut in taking out the Gimcrack Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m).
Settling back in second last place, caught deep from her outside barrier (12), Catch Me made light of her difficult wide trip, dashing to the front at the 200 metres before drawing clear to score easily by just under three lengths in race record time of 56.99 seconds.
Catch Me’s sectional times were also outstanding with her last 800 metres in 43.78, last 600 metres in 33.36 with her final 400 metres in a fast 22.40 – she looks a quality filly with a bright future.