McDonald was first to commit but Hall was not caught napping and the two hotshots were the widest coming around the home turn. To The World ranged up alongside Hartnell but the race fit son of Authorized packed too many guns in the last 100 metres as To The World's challenge came to an end.
Hartnell defeated To The World by a length and a quarter with Chris Waller's Group 1 Doomben Cup winner Beaten Up a half-neck back in third. (photos Lisa Grimm).
"That was very exciting," winning trainer O'Shea said.
"I even give a cheer at the furlong when he kicked and it was evident he might have the Japanese horse's measure.
"He beat a world class horse today.
"To be fair I think the Japanese horse looked a bit big and a hard run mile and a half race might have found him out.
"My bloke was probably just ready on the day. We'll take it."
The classical looking son of Epsom Derby hero Authorized made a brilliant Australian debut second behind stablemate Contributer (IRE) in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick farm on February 28 before a 2-length romp in the Group III McGrath Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens at his most recent start.
A 45,000 guinea purchase at the 2012 Tattersalls October Yearling sale before his sale to Godolphin, Hartnell advances his record to 7 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 16 starts for earnings of $1,400,499.
Winner of the Group III Bahrain Trophy over 13 furlongs at Newmarket and the Listed Queen's Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot when trained by Mark Johnston, Hartnell is a son of Montjeu's English Derby winner Authorized (IRE) out of the Anabaa mare Debonnaire who's first foal was the Listed winner and Group 1 Fillies Mile runner-up Roz (Teofilo).
Debonnaire's dam, the stakes-placed Ultra Finesse (Rahy) is a half-sister to Group 1 Prix d'l Arc de Triomphe and Group 1 French Derby hero Suave Dancer.
