Leading owner Matthew Sandblom is hoping Burning Need can give trainer Gwenda Markwell a lift by causing an upset in The Four Pillars at Rosehill on Saturday.
Markwell has been battling cancer for the past year and has stopped receiving treatment in recent times but still oversees her Kembla Grange stable.
Burning Need will look to fulfil a Gwenda Markwell plan in the Four Pillars at Rosehill on Saturday.Credit:Brendan Esposito
“I have had horses with Gwenda for more than 20 years and she is just an incredible horsewoman,” Sandblom said. “She said to me at the beginning of this prep, we will keep Burning Need’s rating down under a 68 rating and get her into The Four Pillars.
“She did exactly what she said and will have Frankie Dettori to ride Burning Need now.”
The six-year-old mare by The Factor has had a measured campaign on her home track at Kembla, where she ahs won twice at benchmark 64 level and running second twice in a four-run preparation, and she is a $26 chance in the race restricted to Midway stables.
“Gwenda has always been so hands-on with her horses and very careful with them,” Sandbolm said. “This mare is a great example; she didn’t race until she was four and we have just taken our time.
“I would love to get a result because it would mean so much to Gwenda. Burning Nee is probably a city-class horse, but we aimed at this race.”
Markwell will watch from her Kembla stable on Saturday as she is not able to attend the races.
The Four Pillars, which carries a $500,000 purse, has turned into a strong race. Mahagoni will lump the top weight of 64 kilograms as a 76-rater. There are only four runners that are rated under the benchmark 68 that the race is graded at.
Mahagoni has won two of his past three, and trainer David Payne has decided to use Hugh Bowman rather than claiming with an apprentice.
“The advantage of having someone like Hughie is too big to give up,” Payne said. “He will get him travelling and get him into the race at the right time. It will come down how much he feels the big weight.”
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