The 2TM/92.9 4YO Maiden Plate (1000m) was the third race back from a year-long spell for the grey mare and her improvement since that lay-off was evident in an all-the-way win.

Apprentice jockey Shane Arnold took advantage of the two gate to position Sugared Almond in front early in the race and from there she hugged the rail all the way to the finish line.

“It was a good win,” Arnold said.

“She shot out of the barrier and got in front.

“She did it all from there until the last furlong when she needed a bit extra.

“1000m is about her limit.

“She was tiring in the last 20 or 30m.

“Over 1000m she will be able to still win races, but 800 or 900m would be even better.”

It was the sixth start all-up for the mare.

Her last start at Tamworth was a second but that was way back in December last year.

Since then she has been in the paddock and then ran a seventh at Taree and a third at Narromine earlier this month.

“I rode her to a third at Narromine where she lost by a length,” Arnold said.

“But the saddle slipped that day.

“This time everything went A-okay and she went well.”

It was a quinella for visiting Scone trainers, with Greg Bennett’s Snippet Express running second.