Lulumon bounces back with a stunning win at Royal Randwick

The Australian

21-06-2025

Lulumon burst back to her best and denied Storm The Ramparts a hat-trick of Royal Randwick 1000m sprints wins on Saturday.
Storm The Ramparts, burdened with 61.5kg, led until the final stride when collared by the fast-finishing Lulumon in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap.
Trainer Jason Coyle was relieved to see Lulumon rebound after a disappointing run at Rosehill last start.
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'We can put a line through that second-up run now as she is heading in the right direction,' Coyle said.
'We will find an 1100m race for her as she will still get that strong tempo so she can hit the line.'
Lulumon ($4.40) certainly attacked the line with real gusto to reel in a very game Storm The Ramparts ($7) right on the line to win by a nose with Hi Dubai ($6) a short head away third.
Coyle said there were various reasons for Lulumon's Rosehill flop and he anticipated the mare would return to the form that saw her win at the Gosford stand-alone meeting first-up when she also ran down Storm The Ramparts.
'At Rosehill, Lulumon didn't step well, she got her head up in the air and Alysha (Collett, jockey) said the mare hated the (heavy 8) surface,' Coyle said.
'So, we got her home, we reset and gave her three weeks between runs and it has worked out well. She's back on track.
'Mares that can win on Saturday a couple of times, you know there is a nice stakes race on the horizon.'
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Collett suggested keeping Lulumon to races up to 1200m suits the talented mare.
'I know she won over further but these short trips are working out good for her because the tempo is strong and she can run over the top of them,' Collett said.
Meanwhile, Stradbroke Handicap-winning jockey Tim Clark continued his winning momentum on Rotagilla in QMS Media Handicap (1600m).
Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller switched Rotagilla back in distance from 2000m two weeks ago and the three-year-old enjoyed a more solid race tempo and was powerful to the line.
'With Rotagilla coming back from 2000m I knew he was going to be strong at the back end of his race,' said Clark, who won the Stradbroke last week on War Machine.
'He quickened up well at the top of the straight and he was brave to the line.'
Rotagilla ($6.50) safely held his rivals at bay to score by three-quarters of a length from Last Command ($17) with Engine Room ($16) a half length away third.
Waller's stable representative Charlie Duckworth said Rotagilla was 'too aggressive' over 2000m last start (when third to Millie De Lune) and will gain confidence from his tough win over the famous Randwick mile course.