Sunchyme too strong in SERA Country Championships Qualifier at Nowra

Trainer Keith Dryden was rapt when Sunchyme became the first horse from his stable to qualify for a Country Championships Final.

Sunchyme is the first Keith Dryden-trained runner to contest the Country Championships Final. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Keith Dryden is set to have his first runner in the Country Championships Final after Sunchyme secured her place at Nowra on Sunday.

Handle The Truth delivered Dryden with a big race win in 2019 when taking out The Kosciuszko but the stable has never had a runner in the Randwick’s $1 million country feature during The Championships in April.

Dryden, who now trains in partnership with Libby Snowden, admits the last few months has been a tough time for the stable but was rapt to bag the SERA Country Championships Qualifier (1400m).

SUNCHYME wins the @Evergreen_Turf South East Country Championships!@AlyshaCollett drives the Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden-trained galloper to victory at @nowraracing and into the $1m Final along with runner-up Cable Express. Sass 'N' Cheek was a close third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/1dyEaYotbZ

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) February 23, 2025

“We’ve had a run trot lately since Libby and I joined up,” Dryden told Sky Racing.

“We’ve only had one winner but I’m so happy for Libby and the staff.”

Sunchyme was able to hold off Cable Express from the Danielle Seib stable with both horses now qualified for the Final on April 5.

Dryden indicated the plan with the five-year-old daughter of Zoustar is to give her a bit of time in the paddock before unleashing for the grand final.

“She’ll have a few weeks off now and I’ll think about what the plan is next with her,” Dryden said.

“We’ll make our decision after I speak to the owner and see how she pulls up as well.”

Kimberley Secrets and Super Norwest were considered the leading chances in the race but both failed to fire and finished a long way off the placings.

Third home was Sass ‘N’ Cheek from the Pat Murphy yard while Ticklebelly, trained by Scott Collings, loomed as the winner before fading to run fourth.

Originally published as Sunchyme too strong in SERA Country Championships Qualifier at Nowra