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Trainer Tracey Bartley is keen to use a return to the provincials as a launching pad to better things for the lightly-raced Dusty Bay at Kembla Grange on Thursday.

Dusty Bay will attempt to chalk up his second victory at his fifth start when he contests the Shoalhaven Heads Bowling & Recreation Club Midway Class 1 Handicap (1200m).

The three-year-old wasn’t far away first-up from a spell with a fourth in a competitive affair at Warwick Farm over 1200m, finishing a touch over a length off the winner Cantiamo.

“I think it was a very hard race first-up but he was really good and I think his condition probably just gave out that last 50m,” Bartley said.

Tracey Bartley (right) Credit: Steve Hart.

“It’s a nice race for him there at Kembla so hopefully he can go there and win and get to something a bit better.”

Bartley thought enough of Dusty Bay during his debut preparation as a two-year-old to give him his chance in stakes grade following a debut win at Grafton.

The son of Sandbar didn’t measure up, finishing near the back in both the Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes and Group 3 Baillieu Handicap.

“He has got plenty of ability, it was probably just a bit new for him,” Bartley said.

“We ran him in those races anyway but I think he still has plenty of improvement left in him.

“He’s a big raw horse and I think he should get a mile or further.”

Gun jockey Kerrin McEvoy will pilot Dusty Bay with the gelding rated a $3.80 second elect on Thursday.

Bartley will weigh up whether Jade Sunset will join Dusty Bay on the float to Kembla.

The promising daughter of The Autumn Sun could line up in the Bomaderry Bowling Club Super Maiden (1500m) but also is an acceptor at a race at Newcastle on Friday.

A last start runner-up over 1400m at Hawkesbury, Jade Sunset is a staying prospect with Bartley keen to have her line-up where she’s better suited.

“We will accept at Newcastle and then decide because it’s a pretty hot race there at Kembla,” Bartley said.

“She is a staying filly. We rode her cold the other day with a lot better results.

“Her last 600m was really good behind an odds-on favourite.

“We will do the same thing on Thursday if she goes there, ride her back and have one crack at them.”

Mitch Bell has been booked to ride Jade Sunset.

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Kembla Grange meeting