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Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou will travel to Kembla Grange with one horse this Saturday but they're confident it's a "very good" one.

Emerging three-year-old colt Imperial State ($2.40 favourite on TAB) will make his debut in the Congrats Saya Sakakibara Maiden (1200m) to start the card.

The race is named in honour of recent Saya Sakakibara, who hails from the Illawarra's northern suburb of Helensburgh and cemented her status as a one of the greats of her sport with a BMX Gold Medal at Paris 2024.

Co-trainer Sterling Alexiou. Image by Bradley Photographers

Ryan and Alexiou are hoping Imperial State can make a name for himself too.

The stable and some of their connections paid $400,000 for Imperial State at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale but have waited patiently to produce him at the races.

“I think he is a very good horse,” Ryan said. “We have had a good rap on him for a while.

“He could have gone to the races after he won his first trial at Hawkesbury but we decided to give him a break.”

Imperial State showed promise winning his first trial at Hawkesbury over 800m trial on February 27 before Ryan and Alexiou elected to put him away to continue to learn his craft.

The son of five-time Group 1 winner The Autumn Son has continued to impress since returning to work and was only narrowly beaten in his only trial over 812m ahead of his debut run.

Ryan is confident he's been well prepared for his debut.

“He has had a couple of jump outs and is working well," he said. "I know he has only had a couple of jump outs but he is very fit.

“I think he will get to some better races because I think he could be a very good horse.”

Jean Van Overmeire partners Imperial State in his debut this Saturday where he takes on the consistent Matthew Smith-trained Beauty Edge ($3.90).

Beauty Edge has shown promise with a debut third at Canterbury Park while finishing second at Newcastle last start.

Imperial State is one of three first starters in the opener with Ciaron Maher's Outvie ($10) as well as the Richard & Will Freedman-trained Sheriff's Star ($14) both lining up.

Maher also has a leading contender with Dumebi ($4), who will be benefited by Braith Nock's 3kg country claim.

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