Mackinnon Stakes: Magic Wand lands Group 1 to deny Godolphin star Hartnell winning exit

Courageous and competitive until the end, Hartnell has signed off from racing with a gallant third behind the equally impressive MagiC Wand in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes.

Ryan Moore rides Magic Wand to victory in the Mackinnon Stakes.

Eclipsed by Aidan O’Brien’s genius with aptly-named Magic Wand, Hartnell bowed out of racing in fitting style with a defiant and heroic Mackinnon Stakes performance, almost stealing the show.

Ridden by brilliant Englishman Ryan Moore, Magic Wand gave O’Brien his first Australian Group 1 spoil since Adelaide’s 2014 Cox Plate after backing up from a luckless Melbourne Cup 10th.

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While race honours were disputed by Ireland’s Magic Wand and New Zealand’s Melody Belle, much of the focus was Hartnell’s courageous third at his 58th and final start.

James Cummings paid generous tribute to the warhorse.

“He was worth a cheer halfway up the straight,” Cummings said. “What a fitting send-off.

“If you’re gonna get attached to one, you’re gonna get attached to Hartnell.

“He’s a beautiful horse and I’m pleased to see him pull up well.

“He’s been a wonderful horse for our stable and I’m gonna miss him dearly.

“He was an important horse for me because he was my first horse to win a weight-for-age race (PB Lawrence Stakes) and I cherish that.

“Ever since, a couple of Group 1s, representing Godolphin the way he has been wonderful.

“He's run his final race for us but he'll always share a little place in our hearts."

Hartnell retires with 13 wins, 14 seconds and nine thirds for earnings of $7,649,499.

Included in that bounty are four Group 1 wins and 13 minor placings from 34 starts at the highest level.

Hugh Bowman, who condemned Hartnell to several defeats aboard Winx, partnered the proud gelding in his farewell.

“He ran super. He’s a warrior,” Bowman said.

Hugh Bowman after riding Hartnell into third place in his farewell.

Apart from Epsom Handicap and BMW Stakes success, Hartnell also placed in a Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate. He will be cared for in retirement by Reg Fleming.

Magic Wand gave Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Moore a double after his icy victory aboard True Self in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m).

Contesting a Group 1 for the 16th occasion, the Galileo mare prevailed at elite level for the first time, vindicating the decision to back her up after the Cup.

“She’s a wonderful mare. She has been very unfortunate not to win a Group 1 before today,” Moore said.

“I’d say that is probably Galileo’s record now for number on individual Group 1 winners and they are just so tough and honest these horses.

“The team that looks after her, TJ (Comerford), they have done a wonderful job.

“She’s had three runs, the Cox Plate, The Melbourne Cup and she’s come out again and you just have to say that she is a very tough, courageous, high class mare that had her day today.”

The win was ample compensation for O’Brien, the world’s leading trainer, who endured another luckless Cup experience with Il Paradiso and Magic Wand.

Comerford said Magic Wand’s resilience and improved ground were factors in her rebounding success.

Winning jockey Ryan Moore with Magic Wand. Picture Jay Town

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“That’s her third run now and that is the best ground she has gotten,” O’Brien’s travelling foreman said.

“First day at Moonee Valley wasn’t ideal for her. She really, really wants top of the ground. She actually ran very well for fourth.”

“And at the same time she actually ran a good race in the Melbourne Cup as well.

“It was a great piece of work. It was great that she won today. In fairness we all fancied her. She’s a good mare and she showed it there.”

“If the ground didn’t come up decent you wouldn’t have seen that. After all those tough races that she’s done. She takes it in well.”

Comerford hinted Magic Wand could return to Australia for next year’s Melbourne Cup.

“Aidan is going to keep her in training next year. You never know she might come back here again,” Comerford said.

“In fairness all our horses ran well. Il Paradiso was unlucky. These things happen. Magic Wand was beaten only just over three lengths.”

Moore and Magic Wand lead Hugh Bowman and Hartnell (left) home in the Mackinnon Stakes.

PROSPECTIVE HURDLER REVEALS TRUE TALENT

It took years and years of trying and a couple of Melbourne Cup near misses before wily Irish trainer Willie Mullins landed his first Flemington winner.

But his second win could be less than 12 months away.

True Self showed grit and class to secure a powerful ­victory in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, prompting immediate thoughts of a 2020 Cups assault.

Jockey Ryan Moore was forced to get physical with the mare in the straight, but said she needed only a “tiny bit of space” to get going and grab a $200,000 bonus with the ­victory.

After a narrow second in the Geelong Cup, True Self missed a spot in this year’s Melbourne Cup field.

But Mullins, who has twice had runners fill the Cup placings, couldn’t rule out coming back next year with the seven-year-old mare he called “a freak”.

“A winner is always better than finishing fifth or sixth in the Melbourne Cup,” he said.

“I’d rather have a winner and she has done that.

“And she is improving, which is extraordinary.

“I never dreamt she’d be a flat mare. I think she won a two-and-a-half-mile (4000m) hurdle before we bought her.

“Hopefully she has come out of the race sound, and there’s a chance we could get invited to Hong Kong (for the Hong Kong Vase) … then we’ll plan next year after that.

“But there is a good chance she’ll be back in 12 months to run on the Tuesday (Cup Day) rather than the Saturday.”

True Self, which is already $26 with the TAB in Cup betting for next year, has four wins over 3200m or more, but Mullins said the 2400m of the Caulfield Cup could also suit.

“The flat jockeys who ride her say she has so much speed, and even Ryan (Moore) said she should go back in trip,” Mullins said.

“But I want to bring her out for the Melbourne Cup.”

With Russell Gould

Ryan Moore and True Self prove too strong in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

IN A NUTSHELL

JUST THE TONIC FOR GRIFFITHS

Cranbourne trainer ROBBIE GRIFFITHS received a timely boost in his fightback from a brain aneurysm when his impressive four-year-old HALVORSEN closed out the Flemington carnival with an emotional victory.

Griffiths watched the race from home, leaving his stable representative and long-time friend Don Healy to explain the emotional rollercoaster the stable has been on since the trainer's surgery three months ago.

Healy praised the entire Griffiths team, including REID BALFOUR, JADE MATTHEWS and BETH SCHROEN, for their work during the trainer's absence.

Griffiths returned to the training track for the first time on Saturday morning and is expected to be back on track in the next few weeks.

"It is very emotional. (Saturday) was his first day back at trackwork," Healy said after Halvorsen, a horse Griffiths bred, won the $150,000 race.

"He was supposed to be coming on Derby Day but he gave that up about three days beforehand. It’ll be a couple of weeks before he’s back here.”

SAVVY VICTORY FOR OWNERS

■ The patience of all 96 owners, in various syndicates, of one-time Group 1 aspirant Savvy Oak was rewarded with a stirring victory at big odds.

Twelve months after running seventh in the Victoria Derby, and four weeks after finishing last in the Cranbourne Cup, the talented but frustrating four-year-old saluted at $19 in a blowout result after a perfect ride by hot hoop Damian Lane.

After securing his first win of the Flemington carnival, trainer Trent Busuttin said he’d consider sending Savvy Oak to the Pakenham Cup next.

“That’s 2500m on a big track and he’s run 2400m on a big track in the (Queensland) Derby well and then in the SA Derby and went well,” Busuttin said.

“I think it’d be an ideal race for him. Most of the good ones will be gone by then.”

TRUE BLUE VICTORY FOR WILLIE 

■ Irish trainer Willie Mullins, making a flying visit to Australia, secured his first win as a trainer at Flemington when True Self powered to victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

But it wasn’t his biggest win at the track. That came in 1993 when, in Australia with a mate, he put all his remaining Aussie dollars on Vintage Crop in the Melbourne Cup, which won at $15.

“We were leaving the next day, so we put everything on him, and I think we were the only two on the track cheering,” Mullins said.

“We absolutely cleaned up.”

DID YOU SEE/HEAR?

Melbourne Cup placegetter Il Paradiso has been snapped up by local owners after his bold showing on Tuesday and will remain in Australia to continue his career.

Melbourne-based businessman Aziz Kheir and an Australian consortium acquired a controlling interest from Coolmore after Il Paradiso finished third in the Cup, elevated after a protest lodged by stewards.

The four-year-old son of champion sire Galileo will join Chris Waller’s stable and is likely be set for a return tilt at the Cup in 2020.

EXCUSES, EXCUSES

NETTOYER bled after finishing second last in the Matriarch Stakes and will require a vet’s certificate before racing again.

DEBT AGENT and CAPE OF GOOD HOPE were found to be lame after the Mackinnon Stakes.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

WHEREVER MELODY BELLE runs next, the money is sure to follow her after a massive run to finish second in the Mackinnon Stakes.

After just fading on a surging run along the rails in the third race, lightly raced three-year-old filly SOPHIA’S CHOICE also appears to have nothing but upside.

Originally published as Mackinnon Stakes: Magic Wand lands Group 1 to deny Godolphin star Hartnell winning exit