The Group 3 Craven Plate winner was one of 24 horses nominated for the feature race, Gwenda Markwell's Main Stage the only other local in the preliminary field.

A recent arrival at the trainer's stable, it is unlikely the gelding will earn a start in the 16-horse race.

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One of Markwell's former runners has been listed, Archedemus set for a return to Kembla Grange.

Chris Waller's Mister Sea Wolf will line up in a bid to go back to back, one of four horses from the stable nominated.

James Cummings has also entered four runners, including this year's Kembla Classic winner Asiago.

John Thompson's Purple Sector, part-owned by Kiama's Matthew Sandblom will line up, alongside Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's Dawn Passage.

The pair are currently on the first line of betting with Rock, at $6 on the TAB fixed odds

After finishing third in the Silver Eagle and Golden Eagle, a trial at Wyong last week has Waterhouse and Bott confident Dawn Passage can triumph on Saturday.

"Gai and Adrian have given him a barrier trial at Wyong," stable representative Neil Paine told Sky Racing.

"He trialled terrific. Tim Clarke went up and rode him, he trialed right up on the bit. He won the trial and it was really super.

"Since then he hasn't done a thing wrong and we're really looking forward to The Gong. The 1600 will suit him down to the ground. We don't care how the track is, whether it's wet or dry, because Dawny handles anything.

"A win in a $1 million race would be great for him."