Gwenda Markwell has ruled Illawarra racing for the best part of two decades, but conquering the big stage was something that had eluded her.

On Saturday, all that changed when Angel Of Truth stormed away with a memorable Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) victory on day one of The Championships at Randwick.

It was a day 11 years in the making.

Markwell was certain she had a Derby winner in 2004 with her maiden Group 1 winner Grand Zulu.

Grand Zulu had beaten the likes of Makybe Diva and Mummify in the Tancred Stakes, but his owner David Choy opted to take the son of Grand Lodge to Hong Kong rather than tackling the Derby.

Angel Of Truth was never headed down the same path as the Animal Kingdom gelding gapped his rivals by 3-1/4 lengths, with Kiwi raider Madison County and Surely Sacred rounding out the placings.

"Everyone tried to get the owner of Grand Zulu to race him in the Derby but it was just an absolute no," an emotional Markwell reflected.

"When Angel came into the stable I sent him a picture and he more or less said I sent you another horse.

"He just looks like Grand Zulu. He had the same colour, same nature. He is promising."

Markwell's Group 1 winner is the first by a Kembla trainer since Kerry Parker's Dark Dream claimed the Queensland Derby last year.

Late legendary trainer Bede Murray won the Australian Derby, as well as Canterbury Guineas, with Universal Prince back in 2001.

Angel Of Truth became the third consecutive Tulloch Stakes winner to go on a win the Derby after Jon Snow (2017) and Levendi (2018) completed the same feat.

Jockey Corey Brown grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck from the barrier and got away with cheap sectionals to roll along at his own leisure.

"When I seem him around the 1000m with his ears pricked I thought he is going to take a lot of running down," Markwell said.

For Brown, it was his first Derby success since piloting Eremein to victory in 2005.

"14 years ago Eremein was a good horse to me and I nearly won a triple crown on him but I think the older you get the more you appreciate it," Brown said.

"It was good. I am really rapt for Gwenda and her team.