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There would be no more fitting place than Kembla Grange for sentimental filly Gwendie to break her maiden this Tuesday.
Ross Mcconville's lightly-raced three-year-old will line up for just her second career start in the Michael Craig Retirement Provincial Maiden Plate (1600m).
Gwendie ($16 on TAB) is named in honour of late, great Kembla Grange trainer Gwenda Markwell, who sadly passed away in 2022.
She is a daughter of Randwick Guineas winner Hallowed Crown out of one of Markwell's former gun mares Mandylion.
Mandylion won a Provincial Championships Qualifier at Kembla Grange in 2018 and was placed in a Group 3-Angst Stakes during the same year.
Gwendie made a strong first impression at her first career start when she hit the line nicely for third in a 1350m event at Newcastle.
"She is a special filly," Markwell's long-time stable foreman Nigil Monahan said. "She is a late maturing type and is not even really ready to race yet.
"We only gave her one trial before that Newcastle run because her mother had her first run at Wyong over 1350m and that race was meant to be there until it got moved because of the rain.
"It worked out well because we don't think she is a wet track either."
This will likely be Gwendie's last run before she goes for a spell but the stable are hopeful she can head for a break on a winning note with apprentice Zac Wadick riding Gwendie.
The stable could be in for a big afternoon with Runwiththetide and Amigos No More lining up together in The Seagull Chaser Midway Class 1 Handicap (1200m).
Runwiththetide ($2.90 favourite) is one of the leading chances as he steps back in grade with Angus Villier's 1.5kg claim getting him in with a more manageable 60.5kg. The son of Headwater is second up after enduring a tough run in Sydney last time.
"He has come back really good," Monahan said. "Last prep he was always in Sydney racing in city grade but he's back in a Class 1 here.
"We are hoping to get one more win out of him with BOBS and to get him a bit of confidence too.
"Everything went wrong first-up when they ran quick time but back on his home track in a Class 1 1200m he should run well."
Amigos No More ($26) is first-up from a spell with star Sydney apprentice Zac Lloyd aboard.
"This is a starting point," Monahan said. "We would have liked to start off at 1100m but he will have the lightweight on his home track.
"It's hard to get a guide on his trials on the Polytrack but I thought he trialled good alongside The Black Cloud."
