Godolphin’s $4 million earner Hartnell is gearing up for another big autumn and is set to kick off his campaign in Saturday week’s Ladbrokes CF Orr Stakes 2018.ry 10

Hartnell will resume this autumn in the 2018 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on February 10. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

A dual Group 1 winner, the now seven-year-old son of Authorized will have just his fourth career run at Caulfield Racecourse on February 10 in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m).

It will be the first start for Hartnell since his failed 20^th to Rekindling in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington last November, a race he finished third in the year prior.

Hartnell is a regular rival to the world’s best Winx having faced off with the superstar mare seven times, most recently for his second in the Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) last Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

This season the team are trying something a little different and are starting Hartnell’s autumn bid in Melbourne, avoiding a first-up encounter with Winx in Sydney’s Group 2 $250,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m) the following Saturday at Royal Randwick.

In pre-field CF Orr Stakes odds at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au, Hartnell sits as the $5.50 third favourite behind the Darren Weir-trained duo of Tosen Stardom ($4) and the defending champ Black Heart Bart ($5).

Leading-up to his return, Hartnell was put through his paces in a Warwick Farm trial on Thursday.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy partnered the gun import for his second to Testashadow over 1000m, a performance that had trainer James Cummings confident heading into the new racing season.

“He covered a little bit of ground in his trial but he looked lovely in his action and he kept ranging up beautifully and he attacked the line well and looks to have returned in good form,” Cummings told Racing Victoria.

“I was really happy with the way he pulled up from the trial and to my eye he looks ready to go first-up over seven furlongs.

“He will be on a float next week to Melbourne to compete in the Orr Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield.”

Hartnell has a solid first-up record of a win and three seconds from eight previous runs fresh and in the CF Orr Stakes will be after his first turf triumph since a dominant 2.25 length victory in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at the same track and distance last August when resuming.

Looking further ahead this preparation, Cummings is considering a shot at the Group 1 $1.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10 for Hartnell.

Post-nomination Australian Cup 2018 betting is also led by Weir’s Japanese import Tosen Stardom ($6), a last start winner of Flemington’s Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, while Hartnell pays $11 to take out the weight-for-age Super Saturday feature.

To back Hartnell for his upcoming autumn Group 1 races at the best prices head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.