While Kembla Grange's trainers have expressed rave reviews for the concept, the one negative highlighted was the lack of local horses in action on the biggest day of the Illawarra racing calendar.

The region went without a winner, while no Kembla Grange-trained horses raced in The Gong.

Luke Price was full of praise for Racing NSW and the Illawarra Turf Club, but he's hopeful his horses will have greater opportunities next year.

"I thought it was a huge success for the club," Price said. "I didn't train a winner, which was frustrating, but I thought my team ran well.

"Going forward it's going to be huge for the area and get better and better each year, with the best jockeys, trainers and horses.

"Racing NSW can only put better races on next year, and hopefully something for the provincial trainers as well so they can look after that middle group of owners and trainers. Godolphin and Waller won the big $1 million races, hopefully they can work out a way to help the middle class."

The exact way to support the local trainers is up for debate, with a number of trainers offering differing views on potential solutions.

Price was open to a range of options, from a provincial-only race to reserving a slot for a Kembla Grange horse in The Gong.

Read more: Prices to send Sheriff to Rosehill on Saturday

Markwell, however, opposed the latter idea, arguing it would diminish the quality of the field. The Illawarra's leading trainer did support a provincial-only race, similar to the Highway Handicaps.

Kerry Parker suggested the creation of a provincial-only race would leave Kembla Grange trainers exposed to an invasion from the likes of Kris Lees and instead raised the idea of a race based on stable size and experience.

"Speaking to Peter V'landys on Monday, they could go provincial only," Parker said. "The thing with a provincial-only race is you've got the big stables who could still dominate.

"Peter's looking at things like a race for trainers with less than 50 winners, to try open it up for smaller stables and even some of the small Sydney trainers."

While debate remains over how best to support local horses, the trainers all agree on one point.

The prospect of Sydney's leading trainers descending on Wollongong forces them to up their game to compete with the big stables.

"I love a challenge," Price said. "I love this. I reckon it's great taking those guys on. You learn more, you look to improve your own training.

"They're the best. I love taking on the best. It's good fun."

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