Canberra trainer Keith Dryden insists there's 'no hassles' after ending partnership with Scott Collings

Dryden and Collings have reverted to individual trainers rather than working as a team despite winning the ACT trainer premiership in 2017-18.

Goulburn-based Collings originally agreed to combine their stables together in Canberra, but since his son started high school his family have been unable to make the move.

"No hassles, I wanted to restructure the business to make life a little bit easier," Dryden said. "There's nothing else to it then that.

"We're still good friends and he's actually going to do some pre-training for me."

Dryden has been back training on his own at Capital Racing Stables since early April. The veteran trainer has hired a new former who travels to distant events in his place.

But after 40 years of training, Dryden has no plans of retiring anytime soon.

"It's something in your blood and it never leaves you," Dryden said.

"[I want] to train as many winners as I can in the shortest possible time.

"I'd probably take a smaller set of stables and just train for the clients that I have now and stick myself to that.

"I've been training for forty years, I'm not going to expand my stable anymore than it is."

Dryden has 4-year-old bay gelding Vigorish and 5-year-old mare Suneeze racing in the benchmark 60 handicap (1000 metres) at Thoroughbred Park on Wednesday afternoon. Suneeze has previously won three races and Vigorish has won two.

He has also nominated Overfly, Aurora Run and Il Professionale in the maiden handicap (1200 metres).

"The best chances are Suneezes each way," Dryden said. "Vigorish is a really nice horse but he'll want 1400 metres.

"Overfly is having his first start. We'll take him back to the paddocks after that and let him mature a bit more. He'll probably get 1600 to 2000 metres."

SCORSE'S SAUCE

Wednesday Canberra Racing Club tips with John Scorse

Best bet: Race 1, No 2. Francisco Pizarro: Super performance first up will definitely improve and looks too good for these.

Best roughie: Race 6, No.9. Vertex: Improving with each run this preparation can win at good odds.

Race 1: 1st: 2 Francisco Pizarro: Smart galloper who is on an upward spiral, big performance last time this T/D in very strong race, huge effort from back first up, looks too good here. 2nd: 3 Assault n' Bathery: Ran them into the ground last time recording a very strong win, up in grade and exotics chance. 3rd: 1 Black Wand: Unlucky last couple, chance for a place back in distance. 4th: 9 Metralla.

Race 2: 1st: 4 Mo Time: Overall form very strong for this and has his foot right on the till, finds the right race here. 2nd: 1 Ready Set Sing: Old stager but racing very well, gets back but will run on strongly at his favourite trip. 3rd: 6 Estaverdi: Very nice 2 year old filly who is well bred, taking on the older horses no easy task here 4th: 5 Dreams of Platinum.

Race 3: 1st: 8 Luxurial: Smart filly back to her favourite trip here, should be at her peak after three runs and ideally drawn. 2nd: 3 Our Finvarra: Racing in great heart this preparation, will be back and strong as he always is. 3rd: 5 Kid Galahad: Lightly raced but shows very good potential, should get all the favours. 4th: 1 Vigorish.

Race 4: 1st: 6 Jedda Aheadah: Racing very consistently and just missed last time, can go one better here. 2nd: 11 Whicker: Luckless last time when coming back in distance, she finds the perfect race to break her duck.. 3rd: 8 Mr Beasley: Solid form last preparation over this type of trip, and better for three runs this prep. 4th: 9 Glamarama Girl.

Race 5: 1st: 5 Rock Amore: From the strong Waterhouse Bott yard and comes here at third race start, not beaten far in strong city race last time and hard to beat up in trip. 2nd: 3 Exrocka: Both runs good, held up for a long way last time, suited out to this trip and will be fitter. 3rd: 14 Volere: Nice effort over the border last time after a wide run, respect trainer/jockey combo. 4th: 1 Sugar Pine.

Race 6: 1st: 9 Vertex: Racing very well but without luck in good grade, she finds the right race here and will be very hard to beat. 2nd: 7 Quantum Time: Super consistent and never far away, big chance if he runs the distance. 3rd: 6 Gentle Annie: Smart mare racing without luck, can improve sharply from the ideal gate. 4th: 5 Garros.

Race 7: 1st: 7 Joy and Mirth: Good performance on debut behind a smart one, should improve and hard to beat from ideal gate. 2nd: 8 Oksal: Respect from the powerful yard, solid effort on debut and will be right there again. 3rd: 4 Eagle Hawk: First up from long break, very strong form when last in work and a chance if ready. 4th: 15 Il Professionale.