Episode 505: Gary Colvin

We catch up with Wagga based trainer Gary Colvin who added to his metropolitan record when Cambar scored a tradesmanlike win in the TAB Highway on Nov. 30th. Gary’s hoping Cambar will emulate the deeds of stable favourite Another One who won a Championship Final  in 2022 after having finished second the year before. Gary begins our podcast by talking about Cambar’s two early wins at Wagga when ridden by stable apprentice Holly Durnan.

He looks back on his purchase of the little colt at the Inglis Premier Sale in Melbourne. He got a second opinion from Warwick Farm trainer Greg Hickman who’d trained the colt’s sire Pierata.

Gary says Cambar has been a thorough professional from the day he was broken in.

The trainer retained a part ownership of the horse while the remaining shares were snapped up by old friends. He says one of the quartet is a first time participant.

Gary looks back on childhood days growing up with his six siblings on the family farm at Tullibigeal. He says his father was never without a horse or two on the property.

He pays tribute to uncles John and Noel Colvin, both very successful jockeys.

Gary says he was 17 when he joined three of his siblings in Wagga. He pleased his parents greatly when he registered for an apprenticeship in joinery. He talks of his progress in the old world trade.

He talks of his passion for Australian Rules Football, and reflects on his involvement with the Wagga Tigers and the Collingully side. He plays down reports that he was a very accomplished player.

Gary remembers his short stint in a coaching role.

He looks back on Fred Colvin’s move to Wagga and a renewal of his trainer’s licence. He assisted his father for eleven years while training a small team of his own. When Fred retired in 1997, he was ready to train in his own right.

Gary hasn’t forgotten the mare who provided the first win of his full time training career.

He acknowledges the special horses to get him up and running as a commercial trainer with special mention of Baltra and Lock the Key.

The accomplished trainer takes us through the circumstances leading up to his purchase of Another One at an Inglis Classic Sale. He’s never forgotten the instant he first saw the chestnut colt. 

Gary talks of Another One’s pedigree and the 15 strong syndicate who got together to race the horse.

The trainer recalls setting the talented horse for a maiden 2YO at Wagga. He and the owners were stunned when a Randwick trained youngster from the John O’Shea yard turned up for the same race.

He takes us through Another One’s progression to his first tilt at the Country Championship.

Gary followed a similar path the following year and the gelding again made the final at Randwick. This time he prevailed in the highly prized event. 

He pays tribute to Another One’s regular rider Nick Heywood who wages a fearsome battle with weight to stay in the saddle.

Gary talks of Another One’s Kosciuszko failure and his most recent wins in the Riverina.

The trainer speaks highly of Danny Beasley who rode the horse to victories in the Canberra National Sprint and the Wodonga Cup. Danny recently joined the Wagga training ranks and is situated right next door to the Colvin stables.

Gary talks of wife Karen’s picture framing business in Wagga, and his willingness to lend a hand in the early days of the operation. He says his assistance was not needed. 

Gary talks of daughter Gabby who’s currently a highly regarded member of the Melbourne Women’s AFL side. Her dad’s pretty chuffed.

He makes mention of sons Brodie and Matthew. One prefers the thrill of trying to back a winner- the other enjoys being around the horses.

Good to catch up with yet another talented member of the country training ranks.