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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Kylie Gavenlock doesn’t need to have competed in a lot of Midways before to know they’re not easy to win so she has the fingers crossed things can work out for in-form mare Murphilly at Randwick on Saturday.

Grant Buckley is following her to Sydney to ride in the Midway Handicap (1600m), where she drops 5kg, but it’s barrier one that Gavenlock sees as a potential stumbling block to securing her first Midway winner.

She said the four-year-old has won her way there with two wins from her three starts back including a runaway home track success.

Trainer Kylie Gavenlock.

“Two of the hardest things are the fact we’ve drawn barrier one and the rail’s out nine metres because she can get back a bit,’’ she said.

“They are the things I have to take into consideration and other than that I’m happy with her.

“She’s earned the right to go down there and give it a go in Sydney.

“We need a bit of luck early and to not get stuck back on the fence and then she should be right in it.”

While the Gosford trainer hasn’t yet had trained a Midway winner she has competed in a Provincial-Midway Championships Final and a Four Pillars Midway.

Two of the Murphilly's three wins have come on wet tracks, with her latest over the mile on a heavy 8 and she was strong running away at the finish.

“I think she’s just as good on top of the ground but she can go through both so that’s a help,’’ Gavenlock said.

“They are very competitive races so it’s hard to be confident when you have a few things against you.”

Murphilly, $10 with TAB on Thursday, has been a real work in progress for Gavenlock, who has 18 horses in work.

She didn’t break through for her maiden win until her 13th race start but since that success she’s hardly put a foot wrong and Gavenlock said it’s been pleasing to see her work things out.

“She’s been a little bit of a difficult project early on, she has a mind of her own and a few temperament problems, but it’s starting to all come together now,’’ she said.

“We knew it would take a bit of time, the Churchills can take a bit of time as well.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting