Gary Colvin decided to join a group of Another One’s owners in the Wagga grandstand as the fifteen runners arrived at the 1400m starting point for Saturday’s Newhaven Park Country Qualifier. He was conscious of a few butterflies as he sat down and fixed his gaze on the big infield screen. With only first and second placegetters eligible for the $500,000 final at Randwick on April 3rd, there’s a bit of pressure on the bush trainers. It’s even worse when your horse is carrying a sizeable “wrap”. The Riverina touts were telling the world about Colvin’s chestnut horse long before he made his debut in a 2YO Maiden on April 30th last year.
Imagine their surprise when Randwick trainer John O’Shea sent Lion’s Roar all the way to Wagga for the same race. It’s now history that Lion’s Roar started a $2.60 favourite in winning by a neck, and was clearly lucky to have beaten the local hope. The long striding Another One failed to get clear galloping room until the race was all over. Next preparation Lion’s Roar would win consecutive races at Kembla and Newcastle before finishing a close second to classy filly Montefilia in the Gr 1 Spring Champion stakes. Last Saturday he resumed from a spell with a pleasing 5th (3 lengths) behind the exciting Aegon.
With Lion’s Roar out of the way, Another One made short work of the opposition at Wagga two weeks later before heading to the paddock.
He resumed at the end of October and was so impressive in winning a Class 1 at Wagga that Gary elected to test the water in Sydney. The Wagga “wrap” followed the gelding all the way to the big smoke and he went out a $3.00 favourite in a Cl 2 TAB Highway at Rosehill. He was cluttered between horses and his inexperience showed when he was on and off the bit throughout. He wasn’t disgraced in finishing 6th only 2.7 lengths behind Warrah Flash.
Three weeks later, the chestnut avoided the clutter by striding straight to the lead in a Cl 2 TAB Highway at Randwick over 1300m. With Tom Sherry claiming 2kgs, Another One strolled away to win by 3 lengths. He returned for another Highway on February 6th, but this time left connections bamboozled. “It was the only time he’s ever disappointed us,” said Gary. “I added blinkers in the belief he needed a little wake up call, but they had no effect. He also travelled on the fence which didn’t favour runners on the day. It was a run you had to dismiss.”
Fast forward to the Wagga qualifier on Saturday, and the trainer’s main concern was the gelding’s awkward barrier draw. “I started to sweat when he was still three wide at the 800m with no hope of getting in,” said Gary. “He was worse than midfield on the corner, and Nick Heywood actually had to come back half a length to get to the outside of Bautista and Oamanikka. I could see him winding up but I panicked when he suddenly ducked in close to home and Nick had to drag him away. Somehow he gathered momentum again and did a tremendous job to grab them on the line. It was a thrilling win for his fifteen owners.”
Another One (Nick Heywood) overcame difficulties to score a last stride win in the Wagga Qualifier on Saturday - courtesy Trackpix Racing Photography.
Gary makes no secret of the fact that he took a “punt” on the yearling at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Highway session. “I just happened to spot him in the little parade ring outside the selling auditorium,” said the trainer. “It was a risk not checking his X/rays, but I loved what I saw. Sure he was leggy and rangy and had a lot of maturing to do, but he was beautifully balanced and had a lot of character. We got him for $18,000 and here he is running in a half million dollar race.”
Gary had only glanced at the colt’s pedigree before he put his hand up, but couldn’t wait to study it in more detail. He was impressed by the fact that his sire Super One, a son of I Am Invincible, had won five races from only eight starts before being retired to Newgate Farm. He’d won his first four straight in Singapore for Michael Freedman showing dazzling natural speed. He later raced four times in Australia for one stakes win - the Gr 3 D.C. McKay Stakes in Adelaide.
Gary was pleased to discover his colt’s dam Herewegoagain (Hussonet), although not a city winner, had won six races on the mid north coast for the astute trainer Ross Stitt. She’d had three previous foals for only one winner, a filly called Oh No Not Again who’d won a Taree maiden. It wasn’t a pedigree to get wildly excited about, but for only $18000 he couldn’t expect a blueblood.
The ownership syndicate had raced three horses with some success previously which generated the name choice of “Another One” for their new purchase. Some of his owners live in the Riverina, some are in Sydney, and some as far north as Townsville. They’ve had a great ride so far with an $18000 purchase price already offset by $190,000 in prizemoney.
Gary's the first to admit he threw away the rule book when he purchased Another One at the Inglis Classic Sale - courtesy Trackpix Racing Photography.
Gary Colvin had an early introduction to thoroughbreds. His father Fred had a stint as an amateur jockey in the NSW Central West and was always tinkering with a thoroughbred or two on their Tullibigeal property. Interesting to note that two of Fred’s brothers were successful jockeys. John Colvin rode his share of winners from a Newcastle base, while Noel settled in the north western region destined to win more than 1000 races in a thirty year career. After quitting the saddle he became a highly respected starter for the Hunter and North Western Racing Association. Noel passed away in 2014.
At age 17 Gary moved to Wagga where he began an apprenticeship as a joiner. Horses had to take a back seat for a few years, but his interest was regenerated six years later when his family joined him in the southern city. Fred had the trainer’s licence and his son assisted before and after work. The arrangement worked smoothly for the next few years.
Gary was thirty years old when Fred Colvin decided to retire. By now he was completely hooked on the business and needed little encouragement to walk away from the joinery trade. Since becoming a trainer in his own right, Gary has maintained a healthy strike rate on country tracks, earning the respect of all sections of the industry.
He’s won dozens of races with talented horses like Pendragon (11 wins) Lock The Key (12 wins), Street Ride (12 wins), Miss Bemuse (7 wins), Texan Son (7 wins), Irish Key (8 wins), the talented but unsound Baltra and more recently Bravado Lass (7 wins), and Forever Newyork (7 wins).
A city winner for the Colvin stable. Forever Newyork (Jake Duffy) wins at a Canterbury night meeting 08/02/2019 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
When Gary’s wife Karen opened her picture framing business in Wagga a few years ago, he was quick to offer assistance. Despite his eagerness to please, the trainer was politely dismissed when he showed little aptitude for the retail world. “Karen suggested I should concentrate on the horses and leave the picture framing business to her,” said Gary. “It’s a good thing I did. Wagga Picture Frames is still going strong, and the horses are doing likewise.”
Gary and Karen were on their way to Melbourne when I called around 9am on Sunday morning. Daughter Gabby is a key member of the Melbourne AFL women’s team and needed parental support for an important early season match. That support failed to inspire Gabby’s side which was found wanting on the day.
Another One wasn’t the only representative from the Colvin stable in Saturday’s Championship Qualifier. Gary also saddled up rank outsider Sizzling Cat, who’s the same age and colour as his celebrated stablemate. “He won a Maiden at Wagga last October, but was coming into this race at his fifth start,” said the trainer. “Although placed officially twelfth he was only 5 lengths from the winner. I think he’s got a future and so has the little girl who rode him. Hannah Williams is now my stable apprentice and shows plenty of promise.”
Although it means a six week gap between runs, it’s unlikely Another One will run again until the Championship Final on April 6th. “The race is over 1400m and I don’t want to risk taking the edge off him,’ says Colvin. “I think he’s a genuine 1600m horse down the track. He’ll spend a couple of days at Greg Hickman’s stables in a few weeks and will have a rousing trial at Warwick Farm. The talented Nick Heywood who’s ridden him in most of his work and in four of his races, will have the ride at Randwick.”
Tom Sherry's 2KG claim was utilised on Another One in a TAB Highway just before Christmas. Here's the result! - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
And so the countdown is underway to the race that has become a benchmark for future generations of country owners and trainers. In a topsy turvy start to the 2021 series, two of the heats have already been transferred to other tracks because of inclement weather. So far eight horses have clinched a trip to Royal Randwick - Baileys, Tara Jasmine, Art Cadeau, Leg Work, Another One, Bautista, Charmmebaby, and Subtle Grey. Hopefully the welcome autumn rain will dodge the venues scheduled to stage further qualifiers - Mudgee (Feb 28th), Tamworth (March 7th), Coonamble (March 14th), and Muswellbrook (March 21st).
By the time family and friends join the cheer squad at Royal Randwick on April 3rd, Another One and Nick Heywood won’t be short of moral support. The historic racecourse will reverberate to an almighty roar should Gary Colvin’s well known lime green and white silks loom large in the closing stages of a race the “bushies” have taken to their hearts.
Gary Colvin was thrilled to win the 2020 Leeton Cup with the honest mare Bravado Lass -courtesy Trackpix Racing Photography.
(Banner image - A worm's eye view of Another One strolling home in a TAB Highway at Randwick 19/12/2020 - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)