The leading stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace has called on the services of two in-form young riders when a pair of barnmates race at Moonee Valley
Celine Gaudrey will partner Matron Bullwinkel while Irish jockey Dylan Brown McMonagle aboard Kettle Hill when they meet in the Mitty's Handicap (2040m) on Saturday.
Gaudrey has posted eight city winners in the past three meetings and is one victory shy of having her claim reduced to 1.5kg.
Brown McMonagle had a slow start to his short Australian venture but has started to hit form in recent meetings.
Jack Turnbull, an assistant trainer based at Cranbourne for Maher and Eustace, said both horses enter Saturday's race with strong claims.
Matron Bullwinkel won on resumption at Flemington in September and chased home Foxy Frida, again at Flemington, two starts back before disappointing when stepped up in distance at Cranbourne on November 25.
"I think we backed her up too soon, so she's had a bit of time between runs, and she's had a couple of nice gallops," Turnbull said.
Turnbull said Kettle Hill had been a cause of frustration for the stable.
A three-time winner in the UK before coming to Australia, Kettle Hill is yet to win in 10 starts in NSW and Victoria.
Turnbull conceded Kettle Hill ran a better race last start with Brown McMonagle in the saddle after visiting rider had been partnering the gelding in trackwork in a bid to get him to settle.
"We're backing him up two weeks after his last start as he's a hard-going, keen animal," Turnbull said.
