As more rain wound its way through central NSW last Thursday, Goulburn's track returned to a groundhog day style heavy rating.

Apprentice Jess Del Frari's trek from Wollongong to Wagga has paid dividends after she took out Heat 8 of the Rising Star Series on Thursday (January 6th).

It has been a winless racing campaign for stablemates Defy and Zarafah but that could change in the Steel Guards Benchmark 58 Handicap (1800m) - a heat of the Wagga Stayers Series on Thursday.