Albury preview: Party on for Colvin’s potential Opal gem which debuts at Albury on Monday

Well-bred two-year-old Party Boss is out to stake an early claim as a potential Black Opal candidate when he makes his debut at Albury on Monday.

Trainer Gary Colvin has high hopes for the Albury bound youngster Party Boss. Picture: Grant Guy

COUNTRY Championship Final winning trainer Gary Colvin is eyeing off a tilt at the time-honoured Black Opal Stakes should his blue-blooded bargain Party Boss prove worthy.

Colvin has until the last days of March to decide whether or not Canberra is a fitting destination for the colt whose debut performance at Albury on Monday will help point him in the right direction.

“He is a nice little horse,’’ Party Boss’ trainer said.

“He looks like he will make a two-year-old. I’m looking forward to running him on Monday and see how he goes.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBURY ON MONDAY

“If he is going where I think, he will have a crack at a (good) two-year-old race. I am not getting carried away yet but he might be a Black Opal sort of a horse if he puts in like I think he will.’’

“He’s got the right attitude to be a racehorse.”

Party Boss was bred to be every bit as precocious as he clearly is.

Colvin’s colt is a member of the first crop of foals, 114 in total, by 2020 Golden Slipper winner Farnan.

On top of that, Party Boss’ dam, Nickey’s Brown Miss, won the Listed Juvenile Fillies Stakes at two, at Kentucky Downs.

Despite his grandiose pedigree, Party Doll was overlooked by most buyers when put to tender at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

“He was passed-in,’’ Colvin explained.

“I went down a few times and looked at him and made a deal with the people from Coolmore who presented the horse at the sale.’’

Colvin was able to secure Party Boss on the day for $20,000.

Party Boss will be one of four horses making the three-hour round-trip from Wagga to Albury on Monday; joined by stablemates Regal Lady, Divron and Kurokaren.

Divron shapes as the most likely of the remaining trio to return home a winner given her sheer consistency.

“She was very, very unlucky at Wagga,’’ Colvin said.

“She should have won her last two starts.

“I expect her to run a big race on Monday. I think the horse of Matty Dale’s (Luna Jet) is pretty smart but we’ll test it out.

Party Boss is a son of 2020 Golden Slipper hero Farnan

“She has come on very well. Early on, she looked like she was really going to do something but it has just taken her that little bit to refine her racing manners.’’

Colvin seeks to open his Monday account in the Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1175m) via Regal Lady which was born and raised at the historic Wagga nursery - Kooringal Stud.

The now four-year-old mare is from the first crop of Kooringal Stud resident sire, ATC Champagne Stakes and VRC Derby winner, Prized Icon.

Those 85 foals in total also boast the 2023 Flight Stakes and 2024 Surround Stakes winner, Tropical Squall.

Regal Lady’s own resume currently boasts one minor placing from her six starts.

Her last start seventh of 12 in a Wagga Maiden, had hidden merit.

“She’s had a bit of bad luck,’’ Colvin reported.

“She had a bit of an illness last preparation but she has come good and I expect a big improvement out of her on Monday.’’

Kurokaren meanwhile has had her first slice of luck, granted a run in Monday’s Vale John Spalding Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) despite being ranked as the fifth emergency.

“She went really well last start, she was there for a long way,’’ Colvin said.

“She is not going to be a world-beater but she really tries.”

Originally published as Albury preview: Party on for Colvin’s potential Opal gem which debuts at Albury on Monday