Just weeks before LaMelo Ball could be picked at No.1 in the NBA draft, his equine namesake is ready to top the finishing order on Saturday at Kembla Grange, trainer Brett Lazzarini believes.
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Three-year-old gelding Lamelo has been edging closer to breaking his Maiden this preparation, having been nosed out first-up, before working overtime to cross and lead, fading late in the straight in Wednesday class at Canterbury.
Freshened for three weeks, Lazzarini believes Lamelo is primed to launch his career.
"He's ready to go," he said.
"He's been working well, he's a victim of circumstance in town there last start, going forward from the wide barrier.
"You could see he did too much early on and it told in the last furlong (200m).
"But this time he should take a bit of beating."
The Lazzarini stable has struck a rich vein of form, with three winners from the last four runners, including Frazil, who had his first win, at Hawkesbury (2000m), since switching from the James Cummings Godolphin team.
Wearing the same Lavalle family yellow, red and blue colours as Lamelo - named after the basketballer through their association at the Illawarra Hawks - Frazil is now on a quick back-up in a 2100m Benchmark 58 at Goulburn on Friday, though he will lump 61 kilograms.
"That win was full of credibility," Lazzarini said.
"She's stumbled at the 300m where it dips and picked back up to win.
"We were going to tip her out (for a spell), but she's pulled up so well that she's ready to go."
Lazzarini is also poised to take Bride Of Vengeance to Goulburn on Friday (1300m BM58) rather than contest Saturday's Class 1 (1400m) at Kembla Grange, where she was also nominated.
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After Wednesday's rain, Kembla Grange was rated a Soft 5.
Meanwhile, the Gwenda Markwell-trained Electric Girl returns to Rosehill, stepping up to a Benchmark 88, taking on even money favourite Masked Crusader.
Electric Girl was a half-length third behind Prime Star and Destination first-up after leading at the 200m, but will suited to jump and run after drawing barrier one.