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By Tony Megahey

Keith Dryden is training at an astonishing 18% winning strike and has won on much bigger city occasions, but select youngsters from his most promising crop in ages will take beating at Monday’s Sapphire Coast TAB meeting.

Coming off a winning double at the previous meeting at the track and another home at Canberra, the 2019 The Kosciuszko winner is confident enough for a follow-up by last start winners Forty Four Cubits, scratched recently from Wagga Wagga for this and ACT winner Lockup the Kittens.

Canberra trainer Keith Dryden. Image by Bradley Photographers

Both are to be ridden by James Innes jnr.

On the strength of an impressive near three-length Wagga Wagga maiden win in fast time, Forty Four Cubits will start favourite progressing to a BM 58 Merimbula Liquor sponsored 1008m.

Similarly, Lockup the Kittens will head the betting with the advantage of barrier one in athe Independent Liquor BM 58 (1208).

“Yep, we're going pretty good,” chuckled Dryden in some understatement with a spectacular 40 winners so far this season, from 220 starters.

The star is brilliant three-race winner Vinolass, who attracted interest from a big interstate stable, but is not for sale.

“We’ve been lucky enough to have a number of young ones come through at the same time and win races without having any issues - and that’s not usually the case.

“But with youngsters, first prep it’s like building a house, you take all the time needed for solid foundations.

“We get them up and running but always spell them, give them time to mature.

“Forty Four Cupids, the way she won, has the makings of a really nice filly, so we’ve obviously got expectations again at Sapphire.

“Lock Up the Kittens is a tough genuine four-year-old, gives his best and drawn well.”

Aside, the next race for Vinolass is being planned while a winner on the same day at Sapphire, Sister Moon is likely to get a run as an emergency in Saturday’s TAB Highway at Hawkesbury.

“Something special about Vinolass, might even develop into a Listed filly. She’s the one to keep an eye on if we don’t decide to spell and give here more time to develop.”

For the seven-race program Sapphire Coast is a soft 5 in fine weather.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Sapphire Coast here