Another Wil readies for Victorian campaign start

Having transferred to Victoria, Another Wil is poised to commence his latest campaign in the PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.

The seven-year-old arrived at Ciaron Maher's Ballarat stable last Saturday morning from Sydney. His participation on Saturday hinges on a Tuesday workout.

Accompanying Another Wil on the trip from Sydney were Light Infantry Man and Warnie.

Light Infantry Man is entered for the PB Lawrence on Saturday, in addition to a benchmark 100 handicap over 1600 metres. Warnie also holds an entry for the PB Lawrence and a nomination for the Regal Roller Stakes (1200m).

Kings Valley finalises the quartet of entries for Saturday's Group 2 1400m weight-for-age contest, with a nomination also for a benchmark 90 handicap over 1400m.

Jack Turnbull, Ciaron Maher Racing's National Assistant Trainer, commented on the Sydney team's satisfaction with Another Wil's preparation for his potential Saturday comeback.

Another Wil had three starts in Queensland, finishing fourth in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm after his second run, before a last-place finish in the Stradbroke Handicap on a very wet Eagle Farm before his spell.

"We'll probably give him a little bit of work on Tuesday, but he's pretty much ready to go and then he can come to Cranbourne," Turnbull said.

"He ran a really good race up in Queensland and because he had to go two weeks, two weeks, it probably just knocked the edge off him, and he was also on a very heavy track as well last time.

"He had six months off and then to come back and run the way he did, you know that he's going to have improvement into this preparation.

"He spelled up there (Queensland), had some sun on his back, and we know he's a very good horse at his best."

The gelding, who has won nine of his 21 races, including the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes over Saturday's course and distance, had only two starts last spring before an extended break of over six months.

"He had a couple of small niggles, and it was like he lost confidence and he got really keen, and when he was keen, he was running his races upside down and wasn't finishing off," Turnbull stated.

"He seems to have softened and relaxed a bit and at his best, and if he can get back to his best, he can mix it with the best milers.

"The beauty with a horse like him, there are so many options, and we may have to get a little bit crafty as to where we place him with his handicap mark."

Kings Valley is on a path towards the Caulfield Cup, having earned a ballot exemption by winning the Mornington Cup in April.

Turnbull noted that Kings Valley is still displaying his winter coat and is being aimed to reach peak condition on Caulfield Cup Day in October.

"He's quite a keen horse fresh and we're conscious of that, but he's likely to have four runs into the Caulfield Cup," Turnbull commented.

"He's got his winter jacket on him, coming from Ballarat, but he was late last season dropping his coat.

"He's going OK and it will be when we get him to a mile and further is when we will see him."

"Light Infantry Man and Warnie both came down with Another Wil and are entered in a couple of races, and we'll work out what suits them best."

The nominations for Saturday's Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes include 18 horses, featuring the Chris Waller trained trio Ohope Wins, Soul Of Spain and Wootton Verni, along with Desert Lightning and Evaporate.

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