Dryden-Collings team scores first city win

Keith Dryden and Scott Collings have ticked off an important milestone, training Force Of Magic to win their first Sydney race since going into partnership earlier in the year.

Force Of Magic scored an upset victory in Saturday’s Highway Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill, winning by a long neck after being sent around a $21 chance.

He held out Token Of Love ($21) while trainer Matthew Dunn was unable to continue his dominance in the races for country-trained horses with $2.40 favourite Madame De Ban who ran into third.

Collings and Dryden joined forces at the start of the season, maintaining their respective bases at Goulburn and Canberra.

“It is nice to come to town and knock off a Highway,” Collings said.

Force Of Man, now a four-year-old gelding, was bought as a yearling by Dryden’s long-time client Gary McAllister.

“We broke him in and pretty much had him all the time,” Collings said.

“He’s always shown plenty of potential so it was good to come here today and get the job done.”

Jockey Tim Clark said a trouble-free run allowed the horse to grind out to the line.