Progressive Hartnell stakes his St Leger claim

Hartnell, a three-year-old son of Authorized, threw himself into contention for this year’s St Leger on the opening day of Newmarket’s July meeting when leading from pillar to post to take the G3 Bahrain Trophy.

Always travelling smoothly under Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston’s charge – last seen winning the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot – had the race sewn up from some way out as his superior staying power ensured he was never really challenged and he kept on superbly to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

Winning or placed in nine of his 11 starts, Hartnell (who was third in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud as a juvenile) is now around 12-1 to take the St Leger, due to take place at Doncaster on 13 September.

Bred by Darley, he is out of the winning Anabaa mare Debonnaire, making him a half-brother to Teofilo’s G1 performer Roz. Authorized is sire of 11 individual Stakes performers this year, including previous G1 winner Ambivalent – third in the Dubai Sheema Classic and winner of the G2 Middleton Stakes. He is also sire of fellow Group winner Daksha.