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Trainer John Sargent is tipping heavy conditions will make a wide draw all the more appealing when lightly-raced youngster French Ruler ($4.40 favourite on TAB) kicks off his campaign at Kembla Grange on Thursday.

Sargent looks set to head south to the Illawarra for one runner but he believes he can be a winner in the Little Gong Beer Garden Power By Carlton 3.5 @ The Gong Race Day Maiden Handicap (1200m) despite drawing the outside in a max field of 12 starters.

The Group 1-winning trainer is expecting French Ruler to relish the conditions after midweek rain saw Kembla slide into the heavy range in the lead up to the eight-race card.

French Ruler (Molly Bourke) heads to the gates at Canterbury Park. Image by Bradley Photographers

"If it's heavy down there, he doesn't mind it being wet and the wide gate won't matter," Sargent said.

"We will wait and see how the track is and we have the option of running at Newcastle (Saturday).

"He's in form and that Canterbury run on debut stacked up.

"You would expect there to be a lot of scratchings and they are only going to run 12."

French Ruler was proven in his only previous start on a heavy track on debut in June when he ran a solid second to Wanaruah in a 1250m at Canterbury.

That form has since been franked as Wanaruah won in Saturday grade at his next start while the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained colt has twice placed at Group 3 level this spring.

Sargent sent French Ruler for a quick break after his debut run but believes he’s returned a more complete galloper.

That’s been demonstrated in a pair of strong trial performances in the lead-up to his return.

"He is a lot more switched on this time," Sargent said. "He was a bit lost last campaign and his trials now, he knows to jump and run.

"Hopefully he can run on Thursday because he's fit and well."

Sargent had a winner with Llewellyn at Kembla last Saturday and French Ruler is favourite to make it two meetings on the bounce with stable apprentice Molly Bourke aboard, whose 2kg claim gets the gelding in with 55.5kg.

The son of Nicconi was scratched from Wednesday’s Rosehill Gardens card and holds a nomination for Saturday’s Newcastle meeting.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Kembla Grange here