WIN or lose on Saturday, Wagga trainer Gary Colvin is confident of one thing – Forever Newyork won’t let him down.
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The Colvin stable and connections of Forever Newyork will enjoy their biggest moment in racing on day one of The Championships at Royal Randwick.
After finishing a close second at Albury last Sunday week, Forever Newyork will take his place in the $400,000 Country Championships Final (1400m).
Forever Newyork, a three-year-old gelding by Manhattan Rain, is one of the babies of the field and will go up against the most promising gallopers in country NSW.
Colvin is excited about the big moment and travels to Sydney full of confidence that Forever Newyork will run a brave race.
“If he runs up to his best and can get amongst the bigger prizemoney then that would be great,” Colvin said.
“He’s untapped, as far as I’m concerned at the moment, and he’s still improving, which makes me really want to have a crack at it.
“He’s a horse still on the improve and he shouldn’t let me down because I know he tries hard. Every race he’s been in, he tries. Eighty per cent of horses don’t try.”
A good barrier draw has helped build further confidence in the camp. Forever Newyork should start in barrier four, after scratchings, and will be ridden by Brendan Ward.
Forever Newyork ran a big race, first-up, to qualify at Albury and Colvin knows the horse has only came ahead in leaps and bounds since then.
“He went into that race really underdone,” he said.
“I was a bit worried but we thought we would give him a crack at it. He went in really underdone but he picked up the last couple of weeks after.
“His work this week’s been good. I galloped him on the course proper (on Tuesday) and I was very happy with him. He was bouncing around on Wednesday morning so it never hurt him. He was really bouncing around, which is good.
“Nothing worries him, but I think the good thing is that he tries, really tries, really puts it in.”
Not only has there been improvement since his last run, but the transformation of Forever Newyork between preparations is what provides Colvin with most confidence.
“From last campaign I’ve seen the big improvement in him, he’s really put it together,” he said.
“If I put him in a jump out before, he would go nowhere near winning it. The other day, I gave him a jumpout and he won by seven lengths.
“He’s more mature, he knows how to put it together. His action, and all that, it’s improved now he’s matured.”
The Country Championships Final will be the biggest, and richest, race Colvin has had a runner. While excited, he is most happiest for his owners.
“It’s great for the owners. They’re all going up, there’s a cocktail party on Friday night and everything,” he said.
“It’s a big day, the owners will be excited.”
Forever Newyork is a $51 chance with TAB, and will meet a rain-affected track for the first time.