The Gary Colvin-trained Another One, ridden by Nick Heywood, won the 2022 Country Championships. Photos: Bradley Photos.
After finishing second to Art Cadeau in the 2021 Country Championships, the Gary Colvin-trained Another One has gone one better in 2022 when taking out the $500,000 feature at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Another One has now gone on to win $738,920 from 15 starts where he has won 6, placed 2nd 3 times and placed 3rd once.
After winning the Southern Districts qualifier at Wagga in February, the four-year-old came out at Royal Randwick as one of the highly fancied chances in the 1400m country-only final, and he was given every opportunity by Wagga jockey and Harden product Nick Heywood.
Ridden quietly in behind the pace, which was set by the Tash Burleigh-trained To The Nines, Heywood and Another One cut the corner on the home turn, before flashing up on the inside to find the lead with 100m to go on the Royal Randwick straight.
The Wagga runner then stuck on for the win, holding on from the fast-finishing Commando Hunt for Scone trainer Cam Crockett and jockey Nash Rawiller, while in third was the tenacious Amulet Street for Dubbo trainer Clint Lundholm and jockey Hugh Bowman.
Heywood, who rode Another One to his second placing in 2021, said everything pointed to the Super One gelding running a big race in the final.
“They always talk about timing, and obviously last year was the same sort of timing and after everything, he is a better horse this prep,” Heywood said.
“His work at home and everything like that has been phenomenal and I knew he would get through the track.”
Heywood said Another One picked back up in the heavy 9 condition, showing off his strong finish against some of the best gallopers in country NSW.
“He put a dip in at about the 800m there, and once I quickened him back up and put him back on the bridle, I just had a lap full of horse” Heywood said.
“You know when you are on a heavy track and when they pick it back up like he did, he was going to be a big chance of winning it.“
Heywood praised Colvin and his team for having Another One ready to win on Saturday.
“Full credit to Gary Colvin and his team. They look after this horse like he’s their own son and it’s paid off for all the owners here today,” Heywood said.
Colvin also offered praise to Heywood, with the Wagga trainer backing his jockey’s decision to take the inside running, which essentially led to Another One’s rich victory.
“He made the right decision coming on the inside, instead of the outside and it worked out pretty well,” Colvin said.
Colvin, who tested Another One over some ground last preparation, said the four-year-old was better than last year, and he believed keeping his galloper fresh was the secret to his success.
“I told them, this horse has improved and matured,” Colvin said.
“They all asked me if he was better than last year, and I said, ‘I think so’.
“We tried him over a bit of ground, and he was going alright, but I think he is a fresh horse, and you need to keep him a bit fresh.”
The owners, who are either based in, or are from the Southern Districts, including towns such as Tullibigeal, Wagga and Tumut, have enjoyed a good ride with Another One.
“(They are from) all over the place. We are from a little place called Tullibigeal; there is about half the owners from there, and this is a way we have all kept in contact,” Colvin said.
“This originated with a three-horse syndicate. We bought three horses and we have had a lot of success and we have been together for a while.”
With the Country Championships done and dusted for 2022, Colvin said Another One would race one more time before going to the paddock and then being set for The Kosciuszko later this year.
“I was thinking about having a crack at the Town Plate at Wagga over the carnival and then he will go for a spell, then hopefully someone will pick him up for The Kosciuszko,” Colvin said.
Jeff Hanson
