He faced Winx eight times and never went down without a fight against the great mare

Hartnell was known for his extremely good looks and as a fierce competitor on the racetrack. The Godolphin star was also renowned for his ability to compete at the highest level consistently, securing at least a place in 50 per cent of the Group 1 races he competed in. Hartnell is well known for his rivalry with champion horse Winx. He never truly came close to beating her, but on four out of the eight of the occasions, he managed to run second to the wonder mare. His best result against Winx was in the 2017 Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick, where he was within three lengths at the post. Hartnell contested Winx last race, and 33th win in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick in 2019. Although he was never going to win, and Winx no doubt stopped Hartnell becoming a legendary Group one champion, it is still adds to an impressive resume. The multiple Group one winning son of Authorized was at the centre of Godolphin's stable for the best part of this decade and is arguably the breeding powerhouse's best horse to race in Australia, alongside Alizee. His dam is Debonnaire (by Anabaa), the leading broodmare sire 4 times in Bahrain and France, dam sire of 131 stakes winners.

Foaled at Rutland Stud, on the outskirts of Newmarket, Hartnell began his racing career with Mark Johnston. He is a deep brown gelding with a distinctive white line down his forehead all the way to his nose, like a racing stripe. Having broken his maiden by four lengths in the September of his juvenile year, Hartnell recorded two further wide-margin wins at two, including a 10-length demolition of the field in the Zetland Stakes on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile course. He rounded off his campaign with a creditable third in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, finishing the best of all the British challengers that day. After winning the Queen's Vase he was shipped to Australia in 2014 to continue racing out of the James Cummings stables.

The Godolphin-owned galloper arrived from Europe with five wins to his name before having his first run in the 2015 Gr.1 Chipping Norton, finishing second to Contributer. In Australia, Hartnell won four Group One races, The BMW (2015), Turnbull Stakes (2016), C F Orr Stakes (2018) and the Epsom Handicap (2018). The time of 1:32.73 achieved with Hugh Bowman in the Epsom race was a record-breaking performance. It surpassed the previous Randwick mile mark that had remained unbroken since 2004. For the mighty warrior, it would be his final race win despite having a further two race preparations which yielded six placings at Group 1 level, including thirds to Brutal in the 2019 Doncaster and Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Finding only the incomparable Winx too good in the Cox Plate, Hartnell then finished a remarkable third in the Group one 2016 Melbourne Cup to Robert Hickmott's stayer, Almandin. Hartnell carried the Godolphin blue to victory in no fewer than eight Group races, a figure that can only beaten by the outstanding pair Blue Point and Benbatl.

Hartnell is one of Godolphin’s true globetrotters. A horse that captured the hearts of racing fans Thanks to his versatility and courageous attitude, Hartnell never went down without a fight. There’s no doubt Hartnell was one of the most popular horses in Sydney racing during his time. Hartnell was retired from racing after finishing third in the 2019 Mackinnon Stakes to Magic Wand. He joined Godolphin's Lifetime Care program to be retrained as a show horse. Hartnell made his equestrian debut in 2021 and was successful in the Rising Star Thoroughbred Class event. His new owner Sheralee Patterson was surprised by his victory in his first event.

RACE RECORD - 58:13–14–9

EARNINGS - $7,469,499

Zetland Stakes (2013)

Queen's Vase (2014)

Bahrain Trophy (2014)

Sky High Stakes (2015)

The BMW (2015)

Chelmsford Stakes (2016)

Hill Stakes (2016)

Turnbull Stakes (2016)

P B Lawrence Stakes (2017)

C F Orr Stakes (2018)

Epsom Handicap (2018)