Markwell has welcomed a plethora of younger horses at her Kembla base in recent times as she looks to replace the old with the new.

Fortification – a colt by Redoute’s Choice – is one of many up-and-coming runners.

The three-year-old already has a metropolitan victory to his name and added another notch to his belt with a gusty win at Kembla Grange on Saturday. Fortification, ridden by Chad Lever, fought off the challenge of Joe Pride’s Show Me The Honey to score by a ¾ of a length in the Congratulations Karen And Nick Class 1 Handicap (1200m), with Zerchois in third.

"Certainly the older he gets, the better he is going to get," Markwell said. "He hasn't had that many runs but he has been competitive every start, which has been good.

"With all the wet weather he just missed a bit of fast work so I still think there is a little bit more upside with him.

“After he has a break, you never know where you are at with that sort of horse."

Markwell and Lever combined again shortly after as Esteem Spirit claimed the CBC Facilities Maitenance Class 2 Handicap (1500m) in style.