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By Colin Hodges

Gary Colvin, a long time successful trainer at Wagga Wagga, returned to his old hometown on Saturday 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 Championships Final at Royal Randwick in 2022, Gary Colvin was back 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 1600m Frampton Feedlot & Dunk Insurance Tullibigeal Picnic Cup.

Winning rider Bessie Dimery holds the Tullibigeal Picnic Cup aloft. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

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 Champion Series Final over 1000m at Dubbo last year, is looming as a leading prospect for the 2026 Final following a dominant win at Tullibigeal in the 975m 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 fav) in the 1200m Class 2 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 975m Class B Handicap from You Count (Leandro Ribeiro, $2.20 fav) and Talistiana (Bessie Dimery, $5).

Following race, the 1200m Maiden Plate saw King Lesong establish a big lead before the Anthony Craig, Narrandera-trained Elisa (Dylan Parrott, $2.40) took off at the 400m and was a runaway four-length winner over Girl Scout (Leandro Ribeiro, $2 fav) 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 fav) and Himeros (Eloise Drews, $4.60) in the 1600m Ron Tyack Memorial & Ozzie Fuels Class 1 Trophy Handicap.

Racing is at Lightning Ridge on Saturday, and on Sunday the meetings are Bourke picnics and a Mudgee TAB program.

View the full results with race replays for Tullibigeal here