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By Ray Hickson

An untimely hoof injury curtailed Keith Dryden’s plans to set promising mare Vinolass on a path toward stakes company.

Trainer Keith Dryden (Pic: Bradley Photos)

After three easy country wins from as many starts, Dryden was ready to raise the bar but a paddock accident meant the four-year-old will have been off the scene for 11 months when she returns in the Arrowfield Advantage Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

“I was hopeful, originally, of getting to a black type race to try to get some breeding status behind her,’’ Dryden said.

“She was going really well and I spelled her and she hurt her foot in the paddock. Some of the hoof came away and we had to give it time to grow back.”

It’s notable that Vinolass hasn’t trialled officially since her runaway 5-1/2 length win at the Sapphire Coast back on March 31 last year but Dryden said she has contested a jump out at home.

He’s wary that she’ll be a little underdone for her first city assignment but is keen to get her started.

“She’s a nice mare but I’d think she’d possibly need the run after such a break,’’ he said.

“I gave her a solid jump out, it was only here on the synthetic track over 800m. I’m happy with the way she is going but whatever she does she’ll improve.

“Just to the eye she does look a little bit big. I let her stroll along some three-quarter work on Monday morning and the bloke who rode her work said she was awesome.”

Dryden originally had Nash Rawiller booked for Vinolass, $3.20 with TAB on Tuesday, but snapped up Zac Lloyd when Rawiller elected to take a suspension early.

He’s pleased the mare has drawn a soft gate and one that shouldn’t force Lloyd into having to set the pace.

“I wouldn’t like her to end up in front, I’d like to try to ride her just off the pace a little bit,’’ he said.

“When she won on Black Opal day she ran the last 600m in 32.42 so she can let down when she has to.”

Stablemate Acheson has surprised Dryden a little with his two seconds from as many starts given he was initially thought of as a horse that might excel once he reaches a mile.

The gelding was beaten as a $1.40 chance at Wagga on Australia Day and while the Farnan Yearlings Selling Now Plate (1200m), a $100,000 Super Maiden, is a stronger challenge the trainer is starting to warm to him.

“He’s a nice little horse, I quite like him,’’ he said.

“He’s been a handful, he’s taken some time, but once he settles down and gets it all right between the ears he’ll be a nice horse.

Vinolass wins at Sapphire Coast on March 31

“He caught me off guard first-up, he hadn’t shown me a whole lot on the track but I’ve taken him to the races twice and he’s raced very well.

“I think he will turn into a nice horse and I’d like him to just run a good race.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting