Hartnell shines in the fog at Flemington

Flemington may have been shrouded in fog but trainer James Cummings was still pleased with the jumpout effort of Hartnell at Flemington on Friday.

Hartnell was in heat one over 800m on the inside grass, won by the Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Heatherly according to jockeys with fog covering the Smithfield Road side of the course, and after chatting with jockey Kerrin McEvoy Cummings was a happy trainer.

"This was his only trial leading into the PB Lawrence (Stakes) in two weeks but I'm delighted with the horse and Kerrin said he was lovely and strong through the line," Cummings said.

"He was sprightly and happy within himself so he's right where we want him."

Cummings confirmed McEvoy had been offered the ride on Hartnell during the spring.

"Kerrin's been offered the horse and he will, rightly so, do the right thing by his clients and see where his availability will lie in the next few races the horse is targeting," Cummings said.

"We're mindful of placing him to advantage and if that is ultimately the Caulfield Cup we will not be afraid to take them on.

"The horse is seven now and a little while out of the winners circle - the opposition in Melbourne is not going to be easy.

"The early part of the spring we've got worked out on paper, he'll run in the PB Lawrence then the Makybe Diva Stakes here at Flemington which he will be very well suited in and then we'll plot a path from there."

Black Caviar's daughter Oscietra trialled later in the morning and showed her customary early speed to just shade the Cummings-trained Viking Raid in heat 11.

Lindsay Park Racing had its usual busy morning with Group I-winners Redkirk Warrior running in heat one, Vega Magic finishing second in heat three and Sheidel winning heat six.

Co-trainer David Hayes was a happy man after the early heats.

" Sheidel went like a bomb and I'm very happy with Redkirk Warrior and Vega Magic," Hayes said.

"I'm thinking the Bobbie Lewis (Stakes) first-up for Redkirk Warrior and the Regal Roller Stakes for Vega Magic.

"There looks a nice race for Sheidel on Memsie (Stakes) day at Caulfield."

The fog lifted after heat three with more details to follow later.