Nowra preview, tips: Simply Nutbich to find winning groove

Tibbie Stakes-winning trainer Jarrod Austin arrives at Nowra with arguably the best named horse in action but without any doubt, the best ‘trialler’ on the six race card.

Austin, whose Warwick Farm stables are also home to bonny mare Terra Mater, could have as many as four runners two hours south of his base this weekend, ending with Simply Nutbush who resumes in the Greenwell Point Maiden Handicap (1200m).

The son of Golden Slipper winner Vancouver’s third dam was called Simply The Best.

Her mating with Helmet in 2013 was given the name Tina Turban, leading to Simply Nutbush’s cleverly constructed moniker.

Simply Nutbush is Tina Turban’s second foal and while yet to get off the mark after six starts, Austin’s gelding appears ready to get started off the back of two highly impressive trials.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

“He is a really nice horse,” Austin said.

“He’s been really frustrating insofar as I haven’t won a race with him yet but he’s come back a little bit bigger and stronger.

“He is a horse that hasn’t had the strongest constitution in the stables but this preparation, he’s been great; licking the feed bin out every day and his work has been really good.

“He’s drawn awkwardly there at Nowra but that won’t worry him. He’ll get back.

“He is a really big horse with a big stride who just needs to roll into his work.

“Simply Nutbush is probably my best chance on the day.”

Rosemont Stud bred mare Baycat, meanwhile, is well-placed to enhance her tidy resume when she contests the small but select Greendale’s Community Class 1 Handicap (1200m).

Austin’s mare, once a stablemate of Melbourne Cup favourite Half Yours, ran her rivals off their collective legs when she won at Canberra at her first run under the new management.

She was somewhat costly for her backers when she was passed in the straight at Bathurst, clocking in third of out of six next time out.

“She had the month between runs and it just told on her late,” Austin explained.

“I am really happy with our girl going into this race third-up, she strips (fitter) and I think the 1200m suits her down to the ground.”

Austin will likely make a race-day decision on where and when Super Zippi will have her next start.

“I’m trying to avoid the wet tracks,” he said.

That would leave Tomcat Flowers to make up his Nowra bound trio.

The son of Jungle Cat will lead the field out onto the track in the Antax Steel Constructions Maiden Plate over 1400m.

Tomcat Flowers only managed to beat two others home at Orange last start in her 1300m maiden but is better catered for this time out, distance-wise, according to the man who sees him every day.

“He has been very tricky,” Austin said.

“He spotted something in the crowd at Canberra two starts ago and that was the end of him there, he just lost all concentration.

“His (last) start at Orange, we rode him off the speed and they just proved too nippy for him being ridden off the speed so back to 1400m at Nowra, he’ll be ridden positively out of that barrier.

“He’s definitely got the ability to win a race for sure.”

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SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 2: STORMBRINGER

Last starts, easy, winner whose resume includes a second to Maisons Louis.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 3: FLORAL LEGEND

Runner-up at three of his four starts this preparation. Has to be getting close.

VALUE

Race 1 No. 7: DANCING MUMMA

Trial was better than it looks on paper. In a top stable, go well.

QUADDIE

Race 3: 2, 3, 6

Race 4: 3, 5, 11, 12

Race 5: 2

Race 6: 3

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

ALYSHA COLLETT will be a popular choice to win the Nowra TAB Jockeys Challenge.

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INSIDE MAIL – NOWRA

RACE 1: Pelican Rocks Cafe Country Boosted Mdn Plate 1100m

DANCING MUMMA (7) is from a family made famous by Geoff and Beryl White. In short, her third dam is Orwhina whose 13 foals include those fabulous Marscay siblings Jetball and Marwina who each won Roman Consul Stakes among other races. As for this filly, she is from the Joseph and Jones camp and one would be wise to overlook her finishing position in her trial (7th of 8) and judge her on the not too distant margin, factoring in that she was being more or less being restrained. TREASURE HUNTER (4) was $4.20 into $2.45 on debut here on Oct 19. Led, passed late, finished third. Alysha Collett sticks, draw 3. THIS AIN’T TEXAS (8) is a market watch for Matthew Dale and Keagan Latham.

Bet: Dancing Mumma to win

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RACE 2: Greendale’s Community Hcp (C1) 1200m

DEE DEE EXPRESS (4) is a highly valuable mare; she’s by Snitzel out of a Scat Daddy mare who was runner-up in a Grade 3 race at Churchill Downs. The Matthew Dale-trained 4YO was pretty unlucky not to have won on debut in that 1000m Maiden at Canberra on Sep 19. She resurfaced at Goulburn on Oct 7, led and looked in total control as she crossed the line. Kegan Latham back on. What are the chances of not one but two regally bred Snitzels in the same Nowra Class 1. Enter the Bjorn Baker-trained LA NINA (5) who is out of the ace sprinting mare Wild Rain and from the same family as Baker’s own Overpass and the great Northerly.

Bet: Dee Dee Express to win, quinella 4, 5

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RACE 3: South Coast Retreat Greenwell Point Cup (Bm66) 1100m

FUN SPONGE (3) is trained by Jason Coyle whose winning strike rate at Nowra is a very respectable 15.1 per cent which increases to 37.9 per cent when placings are added. Coyle saddles-up Fun Sponge, keeping in mind that he is an emergency at Kembla on Tuesday. Runner-up here last start in a 66 over 1200m. Go well. MISS SCOOP (6) broke her maiden on debut in an 1100m race here at Nowra and bolted in, winning by three. Everything she has done since has contained merit to varying degrees. Alysha Collett and barrier 4 doesn’t leave much room for excuses.

Bet: Fun Sponge to win

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RACE 4: Antax Steel Constructions Mdn Plate 1400m

DEEP AFFECTION (11) is the perfect example of a horse whose resume is in no way reflective of her actual ability. For the record, it reads as 7 starts for no wins, no seconds and just one third. First off, let us not forget that when she was a 2YO she ran in the Inglis Nursery and Millennium as well as the Sweet Embrace. She has always looked like 1400m would suit her slow early/fast late pattern. If not here, look for her at Kembla on Tuesday. MAMMA MIA (12), here we go again, she has accepted for the same race on Tuesday as her stablemate Deep Affection. Beauty Swift trialled like Beauty Generation the other day; wow.

Bet: Deep Affection to win or if scratched Mamma Mia to win, DD 1st leg 11, 2nd leg 3

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RACE 5: Greenwell Point Hotel Town Plate Country Boosted (Bm58) 1400m

STORMBRINGER (2) is a son of Pride Of Dubai out of a handy performer by Ocean Park. He boasts a very tidy little record of 5 starts for a win, a second and two thirds. Take note that the second was at Goulburn to Maison Louis no less. One of the thirds was to Istolea Merc here. On top of all that, he won with supreme authority at his first run for Matthew Dale at Goulburn on Oct 16. Latham again. ULYSSES BLUE (5) is something of an omen tip. This is Nowra remember, the home of Arwon and this horse is a son of Americain. As for her own prospects, she does race well at this venue. SURE INTENTIONS (4) and ROCCO LINI (3) are in the mix.

Bet: Stormbringer to win

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RACE 6: Greenwell Point Bowling & Sports Club Mdn Hcp 1200m

FLORAL LEGEND (3) was always going to be hard to beat before acceptances given her recent form but her chances went up immeasurably when she drew barrier 1. On paper at least, it is going to take something out of the ordinary for her to be crossed from that alley; now it is up to her mettle to stave them off. SIMPLY NUTBUSH (1) is a big player and such a cleverly named horse too; her grandam was called Simply The Best whose foal by Helmet was named Tina Turban. Eager to see what ON HER MERITS (10) does on debut from a good draw. Astute trainer and top rider.

Bet: Floral Legend to win, On Her Merits to place, duet 3, 10