Godolphin has ruled Hartnell out of the Group One Metropolitan in Sydney, with the in-form gelding heading to Melbourne for the Turnbull Stakes.

The gelding finished second to Winx in the Warwick Stakes and was subsequently a dominant winner of the Chelmsford Stakes and Hill Stakes.

"The decision was made in consultation with the whole team here and abroad and it was decided to send Hartnell to the Turnbull Stakes," trainer John O'Shea said on the Godolphin website.

Hartnell, who heads to Melbourne on Wednesday, holds nominations in the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup with a decision still to be made where he goes after the Turnbull.

Hartnell heads the Caulfield Cup market at $5.50 and is on the second line of Cox Plate betting at $8 behind Winx at $1.85.

"All of the spring features in Melbourne remain on the table and a decision will be made on a global basis that considers the locally-trained horses as well as those coming from overseas," O'Shea said.

"We are excited about sending him to Melbourne and look forward to him running in the Turnbull next weekend."

Godolphin-owned Scottish, trained by Charlie Appleby, is also high in the Caulfield Cup market at $13.