Rising Riverina star ready for Albury feature test

An emerging Riverina four-year-old is set to steal the headlines when he tackles the feature race at Monday’s Albury meeting.

Based in the Gary Colvin stable at Wagga, lightly raced Made Easy heads down the freeway to the rival border city for an open Benchmark 66 Handicap over 1175m.

On a track likely to remain in heavy range for the club’s final program of the 2025-26 season, Made Easy is chasing a third win from just fifth start, and second-up off a lengthy break.

A gelded son of Caulfield Guineas winner Press Statement, Made Easy won two races in three starts late last year to announce himself as one of the more progressive gallopers around the region.

He had dominated from the front to claim his maiden at home in late October before being a bit stiff not to win a Class 1 at Gundagai a fortnight later.

But he rebounded in smart fashion, trouncing a handy Class 1 field from the front at this track over 1400m to close out the campaign 19 days before Christmas.

Given plenty of time, Made Easy didn’t return until an eye-catching display on Narrandera Cup day, working home late into a place in a Class 2 from well off the speed.

He steps up now to a deeper race, and connections remain confident the time he has been afforded will help mould a more adaptable galloper who can perform from both on speed and coming from well back.

Despite not having raced on heavy ground, he’s bred to relish it and will be set for a feature country carnival race in the new season, or even tackle a Saturday Highway, if everything goes to plan at Albury.

One of several key value chances in the race, Made Easy was around $6.50 in early betting behind Goulburn five-year-old Big Opinion ($5), Victorian raider Justenuffsplash ($5.50), with another border-hopper Torri’s Dee and local mare Bessie La Belle on the $6 line.

It’s also a real chance for Colvin to snap a frustrating run of outs, having not saddled up a winner since late April.