Keith Dryden's Handle The Truth breaks track record in National Sprint

The 2019 Kosciuszko winner surged from the back of the field in the straight to claim the $150,000 National Sprint (1400 metres) at Thoroughbred Park on Sunday.

It was his first victory in exactly a year after winning last year's Open Sprint (1000 metres).

He clocked 1:21.63 to break Tougherthantherest's track record for the distance, a retired racehorse that was trained by Dryden.

With Nash Rawiller onboard, Handle The Truth took the lead 100-metres from home and drew clear for a 1.59 length victory - with the John Thompson-trained Thy Kingdom Come finishing second.

"I set the horse for the race, it was his main mission," Dryden said.

"When you set a horse for a race and it comes off, that's fabulous. You do get a bit of satisfaction when it happens."

It was Rawiller's third win aboard Handle The Truth, which includes his triumph at the $1.3 million The Kosciuszko.

Dryden will now target The Star Kingdom Stakes (1200 metres) if he pulls up well, before looking towards securing third consecutive appearance in the world's richest race for country-trained horses.

Handle The Truth wasn't the only local horse to win over a short distance, with Matthew Dale's Mossman Gorge claiming the $80,000 Open Sprint (1000 metres).

Under Tom Marquand, Mossman Gorge accelerated on the straight to beat the Snowden-trained Wayupinthesky by 0.46 lengths for his second consecutive win.

"He's racing in career best form. He's won a couple in town this preparation and this is our feature race in Canberra for him," Dale said.

"He had to be every bit up to his best and some to win, it's a genuine Saturday-grade style of race. It was a good, solid win."