Sport
4 April, 2026
Colvin’s cup-winning homecoming
Gary Colvin returned to his old hometown to win the feature at the Tullibigeal Picnic races.
Raced: Tullibigeal, Saturday, March 28, 2026
Gary Colvin a long-time successful trainer at Wagga Wagga returned to his old hometown to be a popular winner of the feature race at Tullibigeal with Freddy’s Shock.
Trainer of numerous outstanding gallopers including Another One, winner of the $500,000 Country Championship Final at Royal Randwick in 2022, Gary Colvin was back on Saturday to where it all started, his father Fred Colvin having been a very well-known and successful trainer at Tullibigeal.
Ridden by Bessie Dimery, Freddy’s Shock had a slender lead at the top of the straight and was under serious threat when Freud began charging home from well back in the 1600 metres Frampton Feedlot and Dunk Insurance Tullibigeal Picnic Cup.
Holding on gamely, Freddy’s Shock ($5.50) won by a head from Freud (Dylan Parrott, $4.80) with Testing The Cugat (Ricky Blewitt, $5) a length-and-a-half away in third place.
Line Of Law, winner of the $50,000 Picnic Championship Final over 1000 metres at Dubbo last year, is looming as a leading prospect for the 2026 final following a dominant win at Tullibigeal in the 975 metres Picnic Sprint.
Settled behind the leader by Amber Collins, Line Of Law ($2.70) sprinted past well performed stablemate Callie Cool (Leandro Ribeiro, $2.30) to score by nearly two lengths while finishing third was the $2 favourite Texas Open ridden by Rebecca McRae.
Dubbo-based Connie Greig who trains Line Of Law, later completed a double when Notleanormean (Leandro Ribeiro, $3.20) hit the lead in the last stride to beat Rita Red (Ricky Blewitt, $4) and Trifecta Ruby (Bessie Dimery, $2 favourite) in the 1200 metres Class Two Trophy Handicap.
Forbes trainer Bill Hayes kicked off the day on a bright note when Mihrimah (Ashley Boyd, $3.60) led throughout to win the 975 metres Class B Handicap from You Count (Leandro Ribeiro, $2.20 favourite) and Talistiana (Bessie Dimery, $5).
Following race, the 1200 metres Maiden Plate saw King Lesong establish a big lead before the Anthony Craig, Narrandera-trained Elisa (Dylan Parrott, $2.40) took off at the 400 metres and was a runaway four lengths winner over Girl Scout (Leandro Ribeiro, $2 favourite) and Bold Bender (Amber Collins, $3.50).
Wrapping up the day before a very good crowd at Tullibigeal, Sunroe ($8) ridden by Narromine jockey Ricky Blewitt for Wagga trainer Doug Gorrell led all the way for a close win from The Bentley (Leandro Ribeiro, $2 favourite) and Himeros (Eloise Drews, $4.60) in the 1600 metres Ron Tyack Memorial and Ozzie Fuels Class One Trophy Handicap.