Kembla performer C’mon Mate just needs to get the start right to have a chance of adding to his strong home track record on Thursday.
Trainer Ross McConville will unleash a trio of fresh gallopers on home turf during the week with C'mon Mate set to be best of them in the Abax Contracting Provincial Benchmark 68 (1200m).
C'mon Mate ($14) has won three races in his career and all have come at the Illawarra Turf Club with a further eight placings from 17 starts at the venue.
"C'mon Mate loves Kembla," McConville's assistant trainer Nigil Mohanan said.
"We left the blinkers on him this time first-up.
"The main thing is with him, he has to jump good because once he misses the start he fights the rider the whole way.
"He has to jump well and get in the rhythm."
A 61kg impost for C'mon Mate has been offset by the 3kg claim of apprentice Coriah Keatings.
Stablemate Donwon is also entered in the same race where he is drawn in barrier 10 but the gelding holds a superior draw in Saturday's Midway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens where he's more likely to aim up.
"It's not ideal from barrier 10 because he might end up three or four wide with the rails out," Mohanan added.
It will be the first time the stable sees Excuseme Mrofficer ($41) at the races in the Happy Birthday Emily Kendall 2YO Maiden Plate (1000m).
The unraced juvenile is a son of Grunt and has had one trial to prepare for his debut, finishing fourth in a 800m hit out at Kembla on July 1.
The stable are hoping Excuseme Mrofficer can have a valuable learning experience with Jean Van Overmeire aboard.
"Excuseme Mrofficer is still new and green," Mohanan said.
"Instead of trialling him, we will give him a run and only 10 horses can run anyway.
"He is still a prep away and not a 1000m horse either so whatever he does on Thursday, he will go out next week on Monday.
Gwendie, named in honour of late, great, Kembla trainer Gwenda Markwell is unsurprisingly a stable favourite for the McConville team.
The daughter of Hallowed Crown is returning from a break after putting together a consistent campaign last time that included a win and three placings in seven starts.
She will find Thursday's Elite Sand & Soil Class 1 Handicap (1300m) short of her best but looks set for a nice campaign.
"Gwendie only has had the one trial because she is a very small filly so we're taking the 1300m very much like a trial," Monahan said.
"She is more a 2000m horse and whatever she does, she will improve. She loves Kembla and Brock's riding style suits the horse as well.
"This time she is a bit more mature."
Brock Ryan pilots Gwendie ($23).
