Country Championship Final winning trainer Gary Colvin is hoping he might have another prospect ready to meet the challenges ahead in the 2026 series from the Riverina to Randwick.
The horse’s name is Party Boss and while he has a long way to go to emulate the deeds of Colvin’s 2023 Country Championship Final hero Another One, time and talent are on the side of both horse and trainer.
Gundagai bound Wagga resident Party Boss first came onto Colvin’s radar at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale at Riverside where the then colt was stabled among the Coolmore draft.
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Passed in at the auction, Colvin later made Coolmore an offer of $20,000 which was accepted.
Party Boss’s pedigree weighs in well above what Colvin paid for the horse.
For starters, his sire Farnan won the Silver Slipper, Todman Stakes and Golden Slipper.
His dam, Nicky’s Brown’s Miss, was also a high calibre juvenile.
The daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown won a Listed race at two in the Bluegrass State and contested (albeit unsuccessfully) the Grade 1 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2015.
Party Boss was tried himself in stakes-races at two; Colvin sent him around in the Black Opal and the Preview.
“I like this horse,” Colvin said.
“He’ll probably have this run then go out. It’s all in front of him. He is still very immature.
“I think he is a deadset Highway horse and he could be Country Championships.
“I don’t want to get too carried away but I think he has got a fair bit of ability.”
While Colvin was suitably bullish about Party Boss adding a second win to his resume in quick succession in the C.E Readford Class 1 Handicap (1180m), a wide barrier has dampened his enthusiasm when it comes to a first-up win for Kappy’s Angel in the Frank Cripps Memorial (1180m).
“The bad draw is very disappointing but it is very hard to find races for that style of horse,” Colvin explained.
“She’s just coming back from a break and has jumped out a couple of times and went really well but she had a very hard draw on a track that does not suit bad draws.
“It’s a shame but we will just need a lot of luck.”
Kappy’s Angel, like Party Boss, has a Golden Slipper connection of her own.
Her third dam, Vaindarra, split the star colts and future champion stallions Marscay and Grosvenor in what was an epic 1981 edition of the Golden Slipper.
Colvin’s first runner the card in the Jack Lindley Memorial Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m) is likely to be the longest priced of his quartet; and by some margin.
Her name is Carnival Girl, a bay filly by Golden Rose winner Denman who hasn’t been seen since clocking in last of the seven in a Canberra two-year-old handicap at $71 back on February 7.
“She has come back really good and she has improved.” Colvin said.
“She’s had a couple of jump-outs going into this so she is fit enough to the run the (1180m) out.
“I’m looking forward to getting her going again.”
SHAYNE’ O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 2 No. 10: SCREEN SPIRIT
Was totally professional and utterly impressive winning his lone trial. Nice horse.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 10: PARTY BOSS
Has come back in great order; on his way now after that maiden win.
VALUE
Race 6 No. 4: BUFF IN DISGUISE
Runner-up at his only prior visit. Very fit and in a winnable race.
DAILY DOUBLE
1st Leg 4, 2nd Leg 9
QUADDIE
Race 4: 8, 9
Race 5: 2, 3, 10
Race 6: 2, 4, 8
Race 7: 3, 6, 9
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
BLAIKE MCDOUGALL boasts a fabulous win strike-rate at Gundagai of 24.3 per cent.
INSIDE MAIL – GUNDAGAI
RACE 1: Tom Wells Memorial Mdn Plate 1400m
HOT TODDY (2) was born and raised at the historic Kooringal Stud at Wagga, former home to his sire, Prized Icon. Hot Toddy is a very well bred horse. His fourth, fifth and sixth dam-sires are Slipper winners Baguette, Vain and Todman. On top of all that, the eighth dam is 1945 Cup winner, Rainbird. Now as for Hot Toddy, it is staggering to think he is still a maiden given his talent. REEF ROAD (5) has placed at four of his seven starts. Inclined to overlook the last run at Wagga on the Heavy 9 from a wide gate.
Bet: Hot Toddy to win, quinella 2, 5
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RACE 2: Jack Lindley Memorial Country Boosted Mdn Plate 1000m
SCREEN SPIRIT (10) is such a great looking horse but that’s what you get when you send a Lonhro mare to Brazen Beau. And what we get is this brown/black coloured oil painting of a three-year-old on debut for Danny Beasley. As for the trial win, he did everything right. Nice horse. Speaking of impressive trial wins, HOWIE DO IT (8) was one and the same at the Canterbury Heats on August 18. Dual acceptor here. Gayna Williams-housed BOLD ROSIE (3) is another one having her first run, off good trials.
Bet: Screen Spirit to win
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RACE 3: Thank You Peter Elliott Super Mdn Hcp 1180m
HOWIE DO IT (16) is on top here if he runs. See above. If not, it is all about SEASMOKE (11), the grey filly just like her fourth dam was; her name was Horlicks. What a mare she was. Seasmoke has finished ninth and sixth in her two starts so far, both at Wagga, but as a fan of the horse let me say it has been all about barriers, bad ones. Not the case here where she has box one. KICKSTART (2) is another one with a favourable draw. This horse had its first run for trainer Donna Scott and jockey Blaike McDougall on August 19 was big from the back.
Bet: How Do It and Seasmoke each-way
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RACE 4: Frank Cripps Memorial (Bm66) 1180m
BRIAL ROSE (8) is borderline Highway class in my opinion. Ron Stubbs brought her all the way from Albury to Randwick in late August last year and she was an honourable sixth in a very strong Class 2 Highway. As for this race, she is one for one at Gundagai and that win was on a Heavy 8. GRAND BELLEZZA (9) has a 50 per cent win strike-rate and that has to count for something. Real on-pacer so couldn’t think of a better choice of jockey than Deanne Panya (and barrier 4). Note that all three wins were on Good tracks however.
Bet: Brial Rose to win
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RACE 5: C.E Readford Hcp (C1) 1180m
PARTY BOSS (10) was a cheap Inglis Classic Yearling when you weigh up his pedigree. He’s by Golden Slipper winner Farnan out of a mare by Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown. Gary Colvin picked him up for $20,000 on the day and has won back $29,050 subsequent to that Wagga maiden win on August 19. Can keep on progressing from here. WHISKEY GEORGE (3) and BOX OFFICE (10) have claims.
Bet: Party Boss to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 10, 2nd leg 9
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RACE 6: Darby Wood Memorial (Bm58) 1800m
BUFF IN DISGUISE (4) is a son of Dandino housed at Warwick Farm by Golden Rose winning trainer Ron Leemon. Buff In Disguise has a compelling set of numbers to take this out. First off, he has been to Gundagai once only and was runner-up. In terms of the wet, he has won twice on Heavy from nine runs. Very fit, he should get every chance to succeed. Ditto that and more for NEWYORK MISSILE (2) who won easily at Wagga on August 4 either side of two close seconds at Albury and Narrandera. By the way, Blaike McDougall steered him to the win.
Bet: Buff In Disguise to win, quinella 2, 4, box trifecta 2, 4, 8, 10
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RACE 7: Gary Readford Memorial Country Boosted (Bm58) 1400m
TROUVE (9) is another leading hope on the Gundagai card for Tumut’s Kerry Weir. This son of Ringerdingding has some incredibly deep form. Consider this; he beat Al Flores and Sawmill at Goulburn back in May. Al Flores beat him on August 10 but still, even that is potentially superior form for this. SUNDROP (6) has been so consistent for such a long time, probably all time in fact. One other point to note, she was beaten a nose at her only run at this track and distance. LITTLE BASHEBA (3) and KEN’KER (2) are clearly in contention.
Bet: Trouve each-way, box trifecta 2, 3, 6, 9
Originally published as Gundagai preview, tips, inside mail for Sunday, September 7, 2025