Changed routine peps up Hartnell

GODOLPHIN trainer James Cummings is channelling the lessons he learned from the “Cups King” to ready Hartnell for another Melbourne Cup bid next Tuesday.

It was initially felt Hartnell would miss the famous Flemington two-miler after his disappointing Caulfield Stakes effort last month, but the Godolphin supremo, inspired by his late grandfather, 12-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Bart Cummings, initiated a change in training routine to reignite the stayer’s preparation for the race.

“One thing I learned off my grandfather was never stop trying new things,’’ Cummings said. “For the many years I sat there learning from him, I always saw him trying and experimenting and thinking about his horses.

“He would often tell me no two horses are the same and to treat them as individuals.’’

Hartnell, a beaten favourite when third to Almandin in the Melbourne Cup last year, is now a seven-year-old gelding and Cummings has tailored the stayer’s preparation to peak next Tuesday.

“I can appreciate Hartnell is not getting any younger, so I’m trying to get inside his mind and keep him happy,’’ Cummings said. “Every time I’ve watched him race in Australia inside 14 days he has not been quite at his best. While he was a little flat for us in the Caulfield Stakes, he looks like he is ready to bounce back.

“I feel he is enjoying the training we are giving him. He has appreciated having a few easy weeks since the Caulfield Stakes. He looks to be working nicely towards his peak, I feel he is racing more like a twomiler and if we run him in the Cup, I’m sure he will run well.’’

Hartnell galloped on the Flemington course proper yesterday over 1600m in 1min 55.01sec including a final 400m in an impressive 23.55, convincing Cummings the stayer was on target for the Cup.

He said a final decision on a Melbourne Cup start rested with owner Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum but it seemed increasingly likely Hartnell would be the No.1 saddlecloth bearer with 57.5kg on Tuesday.