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Trainer Jarrod Austin is hoping a return to a favoured venue will see Successful Star post a well-earned but still overdue win when she heads to Nowra on Sunday.

The daughter of the Widden Stud-bred dual Group 1 winner Stratum Star has so far only managed to win twice herself.

One of those was at Nowra, on debut, in early December in 2021.

And while Successful Star has only added one more to her tally in the interim, Austin praised her consistency and offered a few valid excuses for her rare failures.

One of those “failures” came at her most recent appearance at Mudgee where she faded to finish fifth in what was a better than average country Benchmark 58 over 2000m.

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“She got herself all unbalanced on the top corner and she just wouldn’t settle after that, which is not like her,’’ Austin explained.

“She normally settles quite well in these staying races but she just got up on the bit and wouldn’t drop her head and relax and it proved she had nothing left for that sprint home.

“I am going to forgive her for that run and she gets back to Nowra where it is not quite a tighter turning track and she likes Nowra.

“Hopefully down there with the heavy track as well, she can get back to her best

“She is a really big mare with a big stride on her so she needs those sort of tracks to bring out the best of her.’’

Successful Star will have company on the float from Warwick to Nowra this weekend with Miss Barty’s Party making the familiar trip to the home of 1978 Melbourne Cup winner, Arwon.

So much so that Sunday will be the eighth time Miss Barty’s Party has raced at Nowra, which equates to almost half of her 15 career starts.

Significantly, the mare’s lone win was there in April 2021 at her second start.

“She has been really honest throughout her whole career,’’ Austin said.

“She’s no superstar but her whole attitude and her work this time in has been better than it has been in previous preps so we’re hoping that she can go to the next level and win a couple of races this time in.’’

Miss Barty’s Party was something of an eye-catcher when she resumed at Noqra on April 9.

The daughter of former European Champion Sprinter Dream Ahead came from second last on the turn to finish a length and a half behind the highly promising Wondereach in a 1000m Class 1 Handicap.

“She can really rattle off a good sectional,’’ Austin said.

“We just had a couple of little issues with her, hence the gap between runs, but she had a jumpout here at Warwick Farm last Friday and was really good so I am confident she is ready to go again.’’

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No.2: SUCCESSFUL STAR

Has been a bit costly from time to time but she is pretty consistent and best of all, she likes it here.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No.5: LOCK UP THE KITTENS

Had excuses, like many, in a good quality race at Wagga on Cup day. Form says he will be fine on the heavy track.

VALUE BET

Race 5 No.2: NOBLE ATTACK

Won once but placed seven times in 13 starts. Heavy form is compelling, he beat a handy field at Kembla on a H9 three starts ago.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1,2,4,7,9,12

Race 5: 1,2,3

Race 6: 1,2,5,7,11

Race 7: 3,4

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jess Taylor is closing in on 500 wins and should get closer again after Sunday.

INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Successful Star has been both costly and consistent at times. She’s never been bad, just on occasions she has found one or two better or done things to beat herself. What is most glaring – and compelling – about her overall record is that she has raced at Nowra twice for a win and a third. One of her career wins was on soft, the other was on the heavy. Foxtrot Bravo also accepted for a race at Muswellbrook. California Grass has raced in two very, very strong races and went well both times as he did in the one in between at Hawkesbury.

Bet: Successful Star to win

RACE 2

Lockup The Kittens is a Keith Dryden-trained gelding who has raced four times on soft tracks for zip. Strange then perhaps that the son of Bobby’s Kitten has raced six times on heavy going for two wins and two seconds. Only run over the track/trip was a second placing. Lockup The Kittens and Nic’s Hero both ran in a deep Benchmark 58 at Wagga on Cup day and were among pretty much half the field that had excuses. As for Nic’s Hero, he just got too far back and couldn’t make up the last little bit of the deficit. Handles the slop.

Bet: Lockup The Kittens to win, Nic’s Hero to place, quinella 2,5

RACE 3

Flying Flossy did a great job at her first preparation, Just to recap, she raced three times, ran fourth at the first two in very good quality maidens then went for the break after finishing second at Goulburn on November 5. Lots to love about the trial but an unknown commodity on a really wet track. All that last bit goes double for Craving Magic. He debuts off a great trial. Keep an eye on noms in case he turns up elsewhere soon. Woodbraid Lad remains winless after 16 starts but he has enough talent to have placed six times.

Bet: Flying Flossy each-way

RACE 4

Enzina is a Maher/Eustace-trained filly by Menari. She won like a good horse when she broke her maiden early on but it wouldn’t be unfair to her to say that she didn’t add much to that afterwards. That doesn’t mean she won’t she’s only young and had the six runs. Smashing trial win at Kembla on the Heavy 8 on May 3. Good Lieutenant walked in at Goulburn on May 9. Take note that he has also accepted for Muswellbrook but he won’t mind the heavy if he heads south instead. Quire is better than her first-up run suggests. Miss Barty’s Party ran into a good one here first-up.

Bet: Enzina to win

RACE 5

Noble Attack was one of just 37 foals by Counterattack born in 2018. That was it for Counterattack who was exported to Germany to continue his stud career. Noble Attack is trained by Robert and Luke Price and has done some good things in his time. For the record, that’s one win and seven placings, five of those are seconds. Appears to have no problems on wet ground. Master Right is one win, two seconds and a third and that’s from his whole four starts. Ran second to Phreason no less on a Heavy 9 at Hawkesbury on debut. Willaidow is flying but the draw might not be a huge help?

Bet: Noble Attack to win

RACE 6

Prefer The Wink is a horse with a bright future. Trained by Matthew Smith, this NZ-bred three-year-old is by the four-times Group 1 winner Preferement who didn’t win a race until he got to 2500m (the VRC Derby. My point there is, Prefer The Wink is a long, long from dour. How’s this for breeding? Fleet Commander is by Galileo out of Atlantic Jewel. Placed three from six in Ireland and the UK. Trials here have both been fantastic. December Sly, Matthew Smith’s other horse has a wide draw but it might be a plus.

Bet: Prefer The Wink to win, exacta 5 to beat 2

RACE 7

Noble Beauty is a Richard and Will Freedman-trained mare and a valuable one at that, post racing, given she is a daughter of Birthday Card winner Shamalie whose other offspring include a Cap D’Antibes winner. As for Noble Beauty, depending on who comes and if and how she handles the wet, she’s on top. Sizzling Cat has no issues on soft, if anything he seems to like it. Was somewhat unlucky not to have won at home at Wagga last start. Ladies’ Gem is very adept on heavy tracks.