That's the lingering question on what is one of the biggest days in Kembla Grange's racing history on Saturday.

The always understated trainer Gwenda Markwell and owner Ross Williams unearthed one of the most promising Australian staying talents, when the four-year-old gelding sat in Seat 1A in the Australian Derby at Randwick in April and kicked clear to win by three lengths.

But since, Angel Of Truth has lacked the turn-of-foot over a mile, then was disappointing when Nash Rawiller handed up the lead to the Bjorn Baker-trained Samadoubt in the Group 2 Hill Stakes over 2000m, finishing last.

As a result, you'll likely be offered $51 or more if you're cheering on the Illawarra's great hope in the cerise 'Superhorse' colours in the Caulfield Cup.

Williams was critical of the ride, so you can expect Dean Yendall to try and make it a true staying test and be leading from the front again when he jumps at 5.15pm.

But the significance of Markwell's remarkable training achievement to take Angel Of Truth to Caulfield and possibly Melbourne Cup has been overshadowed this week.

The extraordinary revelations into the ABC's animal cruelty investigation, particularly in Queensland, where retired racehorses were sent to slaughterhouses, has rocked the industry.

Greyhound racing was almost shut down completely over how animals were treated and now the blowtorch has been turned to thoroughbreds.

And rightfully so, cowboys in the racing game should be facing harsh consequences.

But racing, particularly in NSW is far from lawless, the millions of dollars which fuel the industry also comes with great responsibility about caring for horses before, during and after their careers on track.

Last year, Racing NSW bought the Hawkesbury property owned by Bart Cummings to be a 60-hectare retirement village for rehoming horses.

The Caulfield Cup, the great lead-up to the Melbourne Cup, has also become less fashionable now the $14m Everest has been established for the best sprinters in Australia and the world.

And there's a South Coast connection, with Wollongong's Peter Piras part of the Triple Crown onwership group chasing a third straight Everest with Redzel.

But if Angel Of Truth can recapture some of the magic which took him to victory in the Australian Derby, or even gripping on to finish among the first few, the Illawarra will have its first Melbourne Cup runner since the late, great Bede Murray's Universal Prince was controversially scratched pre-race in 2001, after flopping in the Mackinnon Stakes three days beforehand.

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