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By Graeme White

Talented sprinter Espirito and the consistent Zarni headline the main prospects for trainer Paul Murray in the feature races at Moruya on Friday.

Espirito ($3 favourite on TAB) has proven his class with multiple wins and will contest the AMH Mustang Showcase Open Handicap (1010m), while Zarni will jump from the inside barrier in the $50,000 SCB Distributors The Legend Of The South (1425m).

Espirito (Winona Costin; purple cap) in winning form at Warwick Farm. Image by Bradley Photographers

The inaugural running of the Legend Of The South has drawn a strong line-up including Ballistic Therapy which has won her past two starts at Moruya.

Three-year-old Chop The Ice has also taken victories at his past two appearances at Canberra and steps up from 1200m at his latest start.

Zarni has been placed at her at her past three starts since winning at Kembla Grange and two starts ago ran second behind Tags which has won again since.

Murray feels an inside draw will enable Zarni to have every chance to capture the race which is restricted to three and four-year-olds.

“She is going really well and has been racing well, but running into one a little better of late,” he said.

Leading jockey Jean Van Overmeire will ride Zarni who is the early $3 favourite on TAB.

Moruya trainer Natalie Jarvis is well represented with Rouge Lune ($4) and Manzoni ($7.50), while trainer Joe Cleary also has two runners in Angel Academy ($81) and Rockbarton Road ($17). Jarvis is pleased to see a new race evolve at Moruya.

“It’s a nice race to have at this time of the year leading into some big meetings at Moruya later in the year and early in 2024,” she said.

Rouge Lune is unbeaten in two starts at Moruya and fought on strongly when second at his latest start. He looks the likely leader from gate three with Zarni likely to take the trail from an inside alley.

Espirito will lead out a strong line-up for the feature sprint where Moruya mare Iconic Dame ($4.40) is attempting consecutive wins at the track. Iconic Dame has won five of her starts and last raced at Moruya on August 20.

“She had ten days off and is ready to go fresh. She has drawn out which I think suits her best so she can have plenty of room,” trainer Jamie Stewart said.

Kelvedon Road ($6.50) is a talented galloper who resumes after a solid recent trial, while Kattegat ($11), Blitzar ($10) and Gorush Lightning ($8) are all capable of winning.

Master Joe ($3.90) has won three of his past four starts and steps up in grade for his second start this campaign. Iconic Dame is another winning hope for Overmeire on a program that offers $290,000 prizemoney.

The addition of the $50,000 Heck Of A Deck Showcase Super Maiden has attracted a capacity field of 12 runners plus four emergencies.

There are five debutants, while the race brigade have been consistent with the owners to receive close to double regular prizemoney.

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