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By Graeme White

Trainer Brett Lazzarini is hopeful Mancconi can keep up his end of the bargain again when he contests the 2EC/Power FM Benchmark 58 (1660m) at Moruya on Tuesday.

“He is an honest horse and it was good to see him win again at Queanbeyan last start for Paul (Zerafa),” Lazzarini said.

“Paul is my apprentice and he is starting to get a few more rides and wins.

Mancconi (Jamie Powell) in winning form at Kembla Grange. Image by Bradley Photographers

“He rode the horse well last start and his four kilogram claim is a help especially when they get the big weights (62kg)."

Zerafa, who is in his late 20s, has spent time with a few different trainers primarily at Kembla Grange where Lazzarini is based.

“I have ridden four winners and last start on Mancconi was my first full TAB meeting winner,” he said. “I’m still learning and starting to get a few more rides as I go.”

Zerafa has four rides as Moruya including Berenika for Lazzarini, Sublime Ruby (Paul Murray) and Mandalong Superb (Daniel Nickson).

It would be close to the most rides Zerafa has had at a meeting at this stage of his career and he wants to make the most of his chances.

“I was an apprentice to Paul at one stage and with a couple of other trainer. Brett has been really good to me and it was good to get that win for him last time,” he said.

Mancconi has won three of his 35 starts and more than paid for his way with over $120,000 in prizemoney.

The six-year-old was well positioned behind the speed last start before emerging late to just grab the leader Pink Panther who lines up against him again on Tuesday.

Topweight California August is one of several runners at the meeting for trainer Natalie Jarvis. California August has won three of his eight starts at Moruya and will be ridden by claiming apprentice jockey Emma Ly.

Jarvis will use the meeting as a final lead in start for her team of horses heading into Moruya’s following meeting on Friday 29th September.

The inaugural running of the $50,000 Legend Of The South for three and four-year-olds will be held over 1425m.

“We will have a few horses right for it and it’s a good race for so much prizemoney on our home track,” she said.

Jarvis feels Santorini Sun in the Maiden (1210m) may be the stable’s best chance of success on Tuesday.

“We have a couple of others with good hopes that have had a run or two back, but I think Santorini Sun would be our best hope,” she suggested.

Santorini Sun has bene placed at four of her 10 starts and is coming off a last start second at Moruya on August 20.

Moruya Jockey Club secretary Ken Brown said it was all systems go for a big month of September racing.

“We are conducting a function the night prior to the Legend Of The South which is going to be one of our feature races of the year,” he said.

“There will be a fair few horses racing Tuesday that will be going around again at that meeting including some for The Legend Of The South.”

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Moruya here