Esteem Spirit might have been outclassed in the final stages last start, but premier Kembla Grange trainer Gwenda Markwell is eyeing city success on Saturday, leading into the Summer Provincial Series final.
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The five-year-old gelding was game in a Benchmark 88 over a mile on The Gong race day, looming for a place before fading late to be fifth behind Aqua D'ivina.
Listed at $31 with TAB, he drops to a Benchmark 78 over 1400m trip at Randwick, with Rachel King set to push up on pace again from barrier two.
Esteem Spirit qualified for the 1600m Summer Series final at Gosford in a fortnight by winning the Kembla Grange heat last month.
Meanwhile, trainer Brad Widdup will learn more about four-year-old mare Adelong's prospects in her second career start in Saturday's Benchmark 64 at Kembla Grange.
"From the first time I galloped her thought she goes pretty good. She is a nice horse," Widdup told Racing NSW.
"She has shown us enough ability to suggest she could be up to midweek city grade but you just never know until they're out there and under pressure.
The first of seven race at Kembla Grange jumps at 1.20pm.
Meanwhile, Kerrin McEvoy can boast three Melbourne Cups, two Everests and a Golden Slipper.
But incredibly, the top jockey has never won any of the three big mile handicap races at Randwick.
While the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) might no longer carry the prestige and status of the Doncaster Mile and Epsom Handicap, it remains the centrepiece of Sydney's summer racing action. And it is a race McEvoy remains determined to add to his portfolio.
"I might have run second and been close in a finish but I've never won one," McEvoy said. "These big handicap races are the ones we keep trying to aim at and they're all enjoyable to win."
One of Australia's most successful jockeys, McEvoy will get an ideal opportunity to break his hoodoo aboard the James Cummings-trained Ranier in the Villiers on Saturday.
The progressive four-year-old turned in two strong performances in mile races over the Sydney and Melbourne spring carnivals before scoring a last-stride win in the Festival Stakes.
That race has historically been a good form reference for the Villiers, although the addition this year of The Gong at Kembla Grange adds a new twist for punters.
While The Gong runner-up Quackerjack remains the solid Villiers favourite, McEvoy believes Ranier has the right profile and says the horse has turned the corner this season, highlighted by his Festival victory for Kathy O'Hara.
"It was a good stylish win last time," McEvoy said.
"He was gelded before this preparation and I think that might have been the making of him. James has been patient with him and I think he is reaping the rewards this time through. Now he's an older horse, he is a bit stronger and he looks a nice chance in this race."
He also partners the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Wild Ruler in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and Glenall for Team Hawkes in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1100m). with AAP
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