The Blaike McDougall-ridden Monterey Zar ($1.55) was Colvin’s first winner, taking out the 1200m maiden plate by a length ahead of Stratum’s Rose ($6.50), both of whom ran well clear of third-placed surprise packet Rippling Waters ($151).

The bookies favourite was well back at the 900m mark and remained wide with 500m before McDougall worked him back inside and powered home.

Colvin was pleased to see the four-year-old starting to show some real promise.

“He’s really starting to improve and he’s getting his first real series preparations in now,” he said.

“(Blaike) gave him a bit of time to balance up and I thought he finished really well.”

With a string of podium finishes in the past month, Colvin said Monterey Zar deserved his win and would likely be rested before the carnival season.

“He’ll probably go for a little break now with carnivals in mind.”

“I don’t know if he’ll be ready for sure and we’ll see how he comes up, but there’s a few races we’ll consider if he keeps improving like this.”

Colvin’s other winner was Tully Toff ($1.80), who stormed home in the Class One Handicap to see off Nishani Spirit ($10) and Rock ‘N’ Roller ($5) by two lengths.

Similar to Monterey Zar’s ride, the three-year-old bay gelding was caught wide before finishing strongly wide of the pack.

Colvin attributed the win to Tully Toff’s recent run in the Rosehill Gardens Highway.

“He wasn’t a bad run in Sydney … and would’ve probably enjoyed the drop on a good track.”

“It wasn’t a bad race even though he had to run home quick and I’m very happy with how he got back from being caught wide – it was a good to see him finish off well.”

Colvin’s third entrant, Bravado Lass ($3.60), wasn’t so lucky after being caught on the home stretch to run second behind Canford Calling ($4.70) in the 1800m Stayers Series heat.

Nevertheless, her trainer couldn’t be happier with the effort.

“I think she got a bit unlucky there to be honest, I mean, she never really got a clear run and was pretty squeezed in until late,” Colvin said.

“That being said, it was good to see her running over a bit more ground – she looked nice and ran home strong, so I might end up giving her a few more over the 1800m.”

McDougall enjoyed a successful day out, riding three winners after steering Silver Comet to a comfortable win in the Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m) before Colvin’s double.

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