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By Tony Megahey

Past and present Moruya trainers are in focus in city racing, as they are represented with several contenders for Monday’s TAB meeting at the popular south coast track.

Rising Luke Pepper, who moved from Moruya to the ACT several seasons ago to extend his stable, produced an outstanding training performance with a quinella at Canterbury Park on Wednesday in Viceroy, ridden superbly by Hugh Bowman, and Erin’s Zar by Simon Miller.

Pepper’s promising Marquee, also won at Canterbury Park in February after providing Luke with yet another Narooma Cup win at the Moruya track previously. Marquee is spelling at the moment. Pepper has New Zealand mares Megawatt, engaged in the opening event, a Granite Town Festival Class 2, 1200m, and No Pushover in the fifth race, a BM 65, 1425m.

“Both mares are resuming, having their first starts for me from Gold Class Racing-they’ve shown nice ability and will improve on whatever they do,” Pepper offers. “But in saying that, it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re really competitive either. “No Pushover has first up form. “She’s won at 1400m and 1600m, has been close up at Kembla and Hawkesbury, and that’s decent form lines for Moruya.

“Megawatt has staying form, placed twice over 2300m at Newcastle, and while the 1200m does look too short for her, Newcastle is solid form lines for down here as well, and she did race on pace. “But like I say, they’ll both be better with more racing.”

Natalie Jarvis, who relocated from Kembla to Moruya this season, has Malachi Crunch in Saturday’s Rosehill Highway Handicap on the strength of a recent impressive Moruya win. Natalie and stable rider Melinda Kinny combine in four of the seven races on Monday. Calm And Serene looks their best chance, resuming in the fifth event off a Gosford 1600m win in January, and then back significantly in grade from a Canterbury race.

View the fields and form for Moruya's Monday meeting here.