The planned return of promising filly Lull was dramatically halted last weekend, but her training team now believes the unexpected delay could play directly into her hooves.
Power outage forces change of plans
Lull, now under the care of leading trainer Ciaron Maher, was moments from her first start for the new stable at Kembla Grange last Saturday. The entire meeting, however, was sensationally abandoned due to widespread power failures in the Illawarra region.
Instead, the Godolphin-owned daughter of Exceed And Excel will now kick off her campaign in a Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1000 metres at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. According to Maher's Sydney assistant trainer, Johann Gerard-Dubord, the four-day postponement may have delivered a hidden advantage.
"Mentally, it would have done her the world of good because she is a hot kind of filly," Gerard-Dubord explained. "It would have taken a bit of freshness out of her while still having a fairly easy day."
Stablemates ready to fire on home track
The Warwick Farm meeting also features several other runners from the powerful Maher stable, all looking to capitalise on their home track knowledge.
War King was another casualty of the Kembla cancellation and will instead line up in a Maiden Plate over 1400 metres. The three-year-old has shown promise in two runs this preparation, including a third at Kembla and a fourth at Rosehill. "He is going well and is still improving," Gerard-Dubord said. "He doesn't do anything really wrong but he's still a bit new and the penny hasn't dropped yet."
In the Maiden Handicap over 1000 metres, the Gerry Harvey-owned Misty Veil returns after a narrow first-up defeat at Wyong on November 16. The Wootton Bassett filly was beaten a mere nose by Daring Fellow in a gutsy performance. "She is a filly who has always shown a lot of talent but she can do a lot wrong too," the assistant trainer noted, hopeful she can replicate her improved settling manners.
Stablemate Mediterra is also entered but may instead wait for a Hawkesbury assignment on Sunday.
Thompson targets return to winners' circle
In other news, trainer John Thompson is confident Kingston Charm can end a 13-month winning drought in a Benchmark 72 Handicap over 1600 metres. The six-year-old mare famously won the Four Pillars at Rosehill in November 2024 but has found victories hard to come by since.
"She has been going well. A couple of ordinary runs on wet tracks which she doesn't like but when she's run on dry tracks, she has been running well," Thompson stated. With Nash Rawiller booked to ride from barrier three, Thompson believes the midweek assignment is perfectly placed. "It's been a while since she won and she is just placed so well here."
Thompson will also saddle up Hellbent On You, who resumes in a 1200-metre Benchmark 72, and debutant Arizona Loner, who steps up to 1400 metres in a Maiden Plate after an encouraging late finish at Canterbury.
The Warwick Farm card promises a competitive day of racing, with Lull's delayed but highly anticipated return serving as the headline act.
