Gwenda Markwell will take back the overall Kembla Grange trainers premiership, as Provincial Championships final runner Mandylion returns from a three-month break at Randwick on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Markwell has had an iron grip on the Kembla Grange-based title for the best part of two decades, but was overtaken by Chris Waller’s empire last season for most wins at the track.
Six-year-old gelding Coolcraft leads the Markwell charge in Saturday’s meeting at Illawarra Turf Club, the second last of the season which finishes on July 31.
Leading the way on 134 points, with 20 winners, Markwell’s stable will reclaim the crown, after Waller had broken her 14-year winning streak last season.
Markwell’s racing manager Ross McConville said it would be reward for the stable’s hard work to seal the overall premiership.
“We lost it last year, so it would be great for the stable to win it back,” he said.
“There’s still a couple of meetings left, so hopefully there be a couple of winners along the way and that will be enough.”
McConville confirmed the three-year-old filly Mandylion is poised to resume at Randwick on Saturday, having been in the paddock since finishing ninth in the Provincial Championships final in April.
Mandylion led into the straight with jockey Craig Williams aboard, but was swamped late, the Kris Lees-trained Serene Miss taking out the $600,000 feature race.
“She’s certainly matured a bit, but she might need a race or two,” McConville said.
“She’s a tough type, unfortunately she never really had the better going in the Provincial Championships final.
“We’ll see how she runs here before we make any decisions or plans heading towards the spring.”
Black Chilli will be chase his third win in four starts after being nominated to line up against the Robert and Luke Price-trained Noble Joey in a 1000m race at Randwick on Saturday.
Noble Joey was super-impressive in turning the tables on She Knows second-up two weeks ago.
KEMBLA GRANGE PREMIERSHIPS
Trainers: Gwenda Markwell 134, Peter and Paul Snowden 100, Chris Waller 99.
Kembla Grange trainers only: Gwenda Markwell 20 winners ($396,310), Robert and Luke Price 5 ($83,320), Michael Tubman 5 ($82,820), Kerry Parker 4 ($66,520).
Jockey: Jeff Penza 139, Keagan Latham 86, Mitchell Bell 77
Apprentices: Brock Ryan 42, Jean Van Overmeire 33, Rachael Hunt 25
Horse of the year: Dashley Dubh (Tubman) 35, Black Chilli (Markwell) 25, Captain Manering (Markwell) 23, Lani Girl (Prices) 22, Chilli Beauty (Markwell) 20, Bolord (Markwell) 19, Bon Warrior (Markwell) 19.
