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Sweet test for untapped filly

Trainers Pat and Wayne Webster will test the waters with promising filly Bethlehem who lines up in the Group Three Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick.

Father and son trainers Pat and Wayne Webster will gamble on the raw ability of Bethlehem in Saturday's Group Three Sweet Embrace Stakes.

The filly was an eye-catching fourth over 1100 metres on debut at Canterbury last month so the pair have decided to roll the dice and test her stakes credentials over an extra 100m at Randwick.

"She's a bit of an unknown to be honest," Wayne Webster said.

"Her first-up run was encouraging. Brad Pengelly rode her and he was impressed by the way she hit the line.

"He actually said to me that if she'd drawn a gate or if it had been 1200 metres she probably would have won."

Bethlehem will be ridden by Christian Reith and has drawn towards the middle of the field in gate nine.

If she can win it will provide a welcome tonic for Pat Webster who suffered a compound fracture to a forearm when he was struck by a horse on his farm last week.

While Wayne Webster believes Bethlehem will be better given time, he doesn't think she will be out of her depth on the weekend.

"She is still a preparation away, mentally and physically, but she is sound and well and we're looking forward to stepping her up to the extra distance," he said.

"She's shown us enough to be there on Saturday.

"If you're ever going to throw them in the deep end you do it when they're two. Anything can happen."

Bethlehem was a $26 chance with TAB Sportsbet on Thursday.

Kuchinskaya, a last-start Rosehill winner, is favoured to continue Gai Waterhouse's domination of Sydney's two-year-old races at $3.20 with the Chris Waller-trained Jade Marauder the $4.20 second elect.

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