Veteran trainer Keith Dryden sends strong team to Moruya Cup meeting

Like the toughest of undercoats facing a harsh Australian summer, evergreen Canberra trainer Keith Dryden just keeps on keeping on.

Fresh from nine winners in his last 40 runners, the seemingly ageless horseman again takes a very strong team to the NSW South Coast for Monday’s feature Moruya Cup meeting.

And heading his charge is a tough five-year-old and fan favourite around the nation’s capital who takes aim at the main support Moruya Town Plate sprint over 1200m.

Fangela, a still lightly raced five-year-old grey by The Factor, has won six races from 13 starts and continues to build one of the more promising non-metro CV’s in NSW.

He hit the ground running for a third prep six weeks ago by sweeping home from just behind the speed to win a BM 84 at home before not getting much to suit in a tougher BM 72 at Canterbury.

Another little freshen-up, and back up to 1200m at a course where he won his only previous start, Fangela looms as one of the better value bets across the meeting.

Yet, in a small but very competitive field, Fangela will get a real test from provincial four-year-old and early favourite Espirito which is back from deeper metro company; while Don Luigi fifth-up, and Canberra rival Delightful Dream, who hasn’t finished out of a place in his last five, are both expected to command market support.

The Dryden camp also has a big hand with three-year-old debutant Missile Leader in a Maiden Hcp over 1010m, and smart four-year-old Eastern Glow who looms as the clear one to beat in a Class 3 Hcp over 1200m.