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Trainer Dean Mirfin believes Marebello is more than capable of making a winning start for the new barn when he heads to Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Marebello ($5 into $4.20 on TAB) had a pair of starts for Fabio Martino earlier this year before arriving in Mirfin’s shortly after his last start in May.

The son of Epaulette has made a positive impression on the Bathurst conditioner, finishing second in a recent 1000m trial at Bathurst.

Bathurst-based trainer Dean Mirfin. Image by Bradley Photographers

Marebello will make his debut for the new yard in the Welcome ITC Director Morgan Bryant (1400m).

“The horse is going really well and trialled beautifully,” Mirfin said.

“He just has to carry a bit more weight than a few of the others but he looks like a nice horse.

“He looks like a horse that will get up to 2000m so I am not overly frightened of running him first-up in a 1400m race.

“A lot of his opponents are first-up as well and we’ve got him as good as we can to get him to the races.”

Both of Marebello’s starts last preparation were over 1500m and a mile with the four-year-old finishing a close second over the latter trip at Kembla. Keagan Latham will partner Marebello in his return to Illawarra Turf Club.

Mirfin had originally planned to run Marebello at Hawkesbury on Thursday before changing tact to run him on the weekend.

“I had him in at Hawkesbury on Thursday but it looked like it was going to be really hot so I thought I’d wait a few days and hopefully find a cooler day,” Mirfin said.

“The weather forecast looks like it is going to be quite warm now at Kembla on Saturday but nevertheless, he is ready to go and will line up there.

“We hope he is in for a nice preparation, he’s one of the nicer horses in the barn, he’s a lovely animal. Hopefully he can kick it off with a win.”

Marebello is second favourite behind the Mitch Beer & George Carpenter-trained Velia ($4). Trainer Ed Cummings’ O Cara Mia is next at $4.80.

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