Keith Dryden has bought many a Sydney-trained horse in his time, but his most recent winner could be the biggest steal yet.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Loafing, a son of Savabeel, notched his maiden win at Moruya on Sunday. The four-year-old gelding was bred by New Zealand's Waikato Stud and sold for a whopping $425,000 at the 2018 Karaka Yearling Sale.
But after an unsuccessful start to his racing career under the tutelage of Chris Waller, Loafing was bought by Dryden for just $8000.
"I saw him on the internet, so I bid on him and won him," Dryden said.
"I bought him six months ago, but I put him in the paddock for three months and let him mature. I just thought he mightn't be mature enough."
Dryden bought the horse as a gift to his long-time partner Trish, who'd previously owned other serviceable horses.
"Trish has had two previous horses, both very good horses," he said.
"One was an excellent horse called Myname'sjames, who unfortunately became broken winded. The other was BillyBougg and we won seven or eight races with him for her.
"I just thought she hadn't had a horse for a while so if I buy this horse, I'd give it to her as a present."
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
Meanwhile, stable star Handle The Truth is once again on a path to The Kosciuszko worth $1.3 million in prize money.
Currently on the fourth line of betting as an $8.50 shot, the five-year-old is on track to go back-to-back in the world's richest country race.
"We're just starting to get into the gallop stage now, right on target for the program," he said.
"He'll probably follow the same course as last year, two barrier trials, a race and then the big race.
"I'm happy with the way he's going."
Racing returns to Thoroughbred Park on Friday, with the general public allowed back on course for the first time since the Canberra Racing Carnival over the March long weekend.
Dryden will likely saddle up six-year-old staying mare Sweet Knuckle in a benchmark 70 handicap.
"She's been racing consistently, [jockey] Jay Ford said it was a good run last time, he said he didn't think it'd hurt stepping to the 2000 metres," Dryden said.
With much needed rain hammering Canberra and South East New South Wales, it's made for unsuitable tracks for some horses.
Dryden was set to start Gunga Din at Canterbury on Wednesday, but has scratched to avoid the heavy track. Gunga Din ran fifth in the Forbes Cup earlier this month, but is potentially headed for another spell.
Stablemate Wichita Warrior may also be spelled.
Dryden said it's been difficult to place horses due to the wet tracks, including sending some horses for a spell.
"It's really difficult," he said.
"I've just spoken to the owners of Wichita Warrior, Shores of Avalon and Gunga Din, and the decision was made that we're going to turn the horses out for three to four weeks, to hope the weather changes a bit.
"We're looking at racing again in eight weeks' time with them. Hopefully by then we'll have some dryer tracks".
