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By Graeme White

Determined is the word trainer Paul Murray uses to describe lightly raced mare Cani Cancan who lines up as one of the favoured contenders for the Tyre Torque Narooma Cup (1300m) at Moruya on Sunday.

Cani Cancan ($3 on TAB) has won four of her 11 starts including her latest at the Sapphire Coast with race jockey Winona Costin aboard.

Murray has a lot of time for Cani Cancan and will take it one race at a time with the four-year-old.

“I’m hoping she can keep stepping up and be competitive in provincial grade going forward,” he said.

“She always gives her best. She tries really hard and that can take a horse a long way.”

Cani Cancan’s owners love to see the mare race and Murray said the plan is to keep pushing her up in grade.

“They love the horse and she has been doing a good job for them,” he said.

“It is getting harder each time, but she keeps performing well in the right type of races.

“I don’t think Sunday is beyond her even though she is up against some horses that have done a fair bit in their careers.”

Fancied runner Fine Vintage has been scratched and will instead start in the Dalmeny IGA Narooma Town Plate (1100m) and is the $2.20 favourite.

Louie’s Legacy has also been withdrawn leaving just six runners.

Trainer Natalie Jaris has last year’s runner-up Napoleon Solo ($17) and the well performed Kattegat ($4.40) lining up.

Kattegat has 59kg after the claim for apprentice jockey Rebecca Bronett-Prag.

Merc ($7) – a stablemate from the in-form Joseph-Jones stable – is first-up from a break with Claire Ramsbotham to ride after her career best three winners on the Nowra Cup day last Sunday.

Trainer Mitch Beer has two contenders Your Not The Boss ($2.15 favourite) and So Greysful ($23).

Meanwhile, Fine Vintage captured the Albury Twilight first-up and is the TAB favourite for the Narooma Town Plate.

“I thought it was the better option after he failed on a wet track in Sydney last start,” trainer Luke Pepper said.

The Canberra trainer has produced six winners since moving back to the national capital with Fine Vintage his first.

King Gutho ($4.20) won at Moruya two starts ago before finishing second in The Thunderbolt behind Extravagent Lad.

Mr Rock It ($4.20) ran third to King Gutho which was the first of four consecutive placings.

Ferrari Girl ($7.50) is first-up from a break with trainer Garry Kirkup using the race as a starting point for the summer racing.

“It’s a good test for her. She is pretty honest so I’m expecting her to be in the finish,” he said.

Moruya has a number of feature meetings over several weeks with some 2000 racegoers expected to attend on Sunday.

There are more than 60 marquee areas booked for the eight-race program.

Moruya will also race on Monday 6 January and again on Friday 17 January when again thousands of racegoers will attend the holiday meetings.