Sapphire Coast preview: An untimely setback has caused a slow start to the season for Keith Dryden but he is ready to fight back

A slow start to the season can soon be forgotten for trainer Keith Dryden with a couple of good chances at the Sapphire Coast while a Nathan Doyle pair can shine at Hawkesbury.

A drop in grade can see Pretty Eyed get back to winning form at the Sapphire Coast. Picture: Bradley Photos

By his own admission, trainer Keith Dryden has had a quiet start to the season but he feels the team is ready to turn that around and can start at the Sapphire Coast.

Dryden has had just five winners in the first three months of the season but said there was a reason behind for the form slump.

“I’ve had a quiet time since the start of the season and haven’t had a lot of winners yet but I had a virus go through the stable which affected a lot of my horses,” said Dryden.

“We are back on track now and hopefully we can turn it around.”

Dryden feels Pretty Eyed could be his best chance for the day when she lines up in the Bermagui Cup Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m).

Pretty Eyed makes it back to back wins! pic.twitter.com/N4wkHJO3bI

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 12, 2023

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The five-year-old has been racing in much higher grade in recent starts including a three length ninth behind Les Goh in the Batemans Bay Cup and a Federal Benchmark 75 at Canberra last start when sixth behind Louie’s Legacy.

“What she does need is speed on in the race. At Canberra the other day, they walked in front which just didn’t suit her,” Dryden said.

“It was a strong race and Louie’s Legacy - who has now won three on the trot – absolutely walked in front and kicked away.

“The drop back in grade will certainly help her and hopefully there is a good tempo.

“She is probably my best chance on the day I feel.”

Lightly-raced mare Blue Bayou resumes from a spell in the Class 1 Handicap (1000m) where she is one of the leading chances.

The daughter of Smart Missile finished third at her first two starts at Canberra in December and Wagga in April before breaking through with a win over Good Prize at Queanbeyan on May 12.

She had trained off according to Dryden when seventh at Moruya last start and sent to the paddock but he said she has come back in good order.

“I had a lot of trouble with her, she kept hanging in her races for no reason and I kept mucking around changing gear to try and sort that out.

Blue Bayou and @InnesJnr get the meeting underway at Queanbeyan with a win! pic.twitter.com/A0ik7lbLRb

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 12, 2024

“I had to work her more than I wanted to just to make sure she wasn’t hanging because she only hangs when she gallops.

“I probably drove a bit more work into her than I was expecting to which shortened her campaign.

“Her work has been quite okay, I’m happy enough to be going to the races with her and she should run well.”

Impending Harmony has placed in just five of her 18 runs but hasn’t been far away in her latest two runs and is a chance from barrier 1 in the Maiden Handicap (1600m).

“She is a horse struggling to win a race but in saying that, she is paying her way because she is around the money all the time,” Dryden said.

“I think she is looking for a mile at least. Queanbeyan probably didn’t suit her the other day.

“She has shown enough to say she should win a race and I think she will run 2000m so we will get her out to that trip and see what happens.”

Dryden feels Candi Lass is another who can improve from her latest run when don the track at Wagga when she steps out on the Maiden Plate (1200m).

“She was disappointing at Wagga last start but I don’t think she wanted to stretch out as well as she can that day,” he said

“She seems to be going along okay and he work is good enough to be winning a maiden.”

DOYLE CONFIDENT KING CAN GET HIS CROWN BACK

A big drop back in grade and a track that suit leaders especially with the rail out looks a perfect set up for Reigning King to bounce back to winning form.

The Nathan Doyle-trained Reigning King was very good winning back-to-back races at Wyong and Newcastle before testing the waters in metropolitan company in a Benchmark 80 at Eagle Farm 19 days ago.

While he finished eighth behind Appin Girl and Acres Away beaten four lengths, Doyle was pleased with is effort.

“He is a lot better horse when he can dictate but he just stepped slow up there and was on the back foot from the start,” said Doyle.

“I though he still ran a creditable race.”

The gelding’s two recent victories were in Benchmark 64s over the likes of Fire Star and After Match at Wyong and Akaka Falls at Newcastle.

It's a tight one in the Johnnie Roberts Memorial with Reigning King victorious from Fire Star by a nose!@WyongRaceClubpic.twitter.com/7UvCp75l1v

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 1, 2024

He steps out in the Benchmark 68 Handicap over 1000m with talented apprentice Benjamin Osmond claiming 2kg.

“This looks a nice race for him. He’s got a good gate and with the rail out four metres, it is really going to suit leaders,” Doyle said.

“He is normally very fast out of the gates and with Ben’s (Osmond) couple of kilos off, he gets in very well at the weights.

“Those two races that he won before he went to Queensland were probably a bit stronger on paper than what he meets here which doesn’t happen too often.

“If he finds the lead, I’m sure he will be given every opportunity.”

Doyle feels stablemate Celestial Fury can run a much improved race when he contests the Benchmark 64 Handicap (2130m) after tackling a solid Midway at Randwick last start.

“His first-up run was super but it was probably a bit far of a jump up in trip to 1800m second-up,” he said.

“It was a very high-pressure Midway and he rode the speed. He got stitch at the furlong which was bound to happen the way the race was run.

“We have put the screws down a bit tighter with him at home and I’m happy with the way he has responded.

“He seems to get around Wyong well and I’m sure he can bounce with an improved performance.

“Normally when he is third and fourth-up, he gets back to form and starts to hold it. That’s what we expect this week.”

Doyle said he will likely scratch debutant Private Harry from his wide gate and save him for Newcastle on Saturday.