“DARTS” GIVES RYAN 10 FOR THE SEASON SO FAR

BLAKE Ryan was ready to “sell out” on the home turn at Kembla Grange today, and thought his horse Smoke ‘N’ Darts had come to the end of his first racing campaign.

And there were one or two more occasions afterwards when he was also resigned to defeat.

Thankfully for the Hawkesbury trainer that didn’t happen – and he notched his 10^th winner of the season when Smoke ‘N’ Darts ($3.50 favorite) broke through in the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1300m).

The three-year-old son of North Pacific had been runner-up at his first three starts, and that looked like being the same story again when he was headed by Wyong trainer Sara Ryan’s Galactic Force ($19).

But he fought back gamely under his 60.5kg topweight, and edged out Galactic Force, with fellow Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s Lion Hunt ($3.80) a nice third on debut.

“Smoke ‘N’ Darts was up in distance today, and began brilliantly to take up the running,” Ryan said this evening en route home.

“This was the first time he had led, and I thought he was in trouble on the corner and a couple of times in the straight.

“He raised another effort when Sara Ryan’s horse came up underneath him on the inside.

“It was a good performance, and great to see him break through for his owners.

“I wasn’t worried about the heavy track as he won a trial at Kembla Grange in March on wet ground.

“Smoke ‘N’ Darts didn’t reach his reserve at the 2024 Inglis Classic yearling sale, and his owners gave him to me on the recommendation of bloodstock agent Andrew Williams.

“The horse is tough and tries hard, but that’s it for the time being.

“He can have a break, and hopefully we can win a couple more with him next time.”

Whilst Ryan’s 10 wins so far this season is yet to match his benchmark 15 last season, he has been successful with eight of his last 50 starters (including the Listed Woodlands Stakes at Scone last month with Queen Regent).

“It was a slower start to the season, and I’ve had fewer runners than last year,” he said.

. Hawkesbury’s Sheza Diva and Newcastle’s Crathie Kirk are the two provincial acceptors for Saturday’s $700,000 Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.

Mitch and Desiree Kearney’s Sheeza Diva drew barrier five, and Kris Lees’ Crathie Kirk (Michael Rodd) drew barrier 11 in a capacity field of 18, plus five emergencies.

. Jockey Regan Bayliss made a special trip from his Sydney base early this morning to partner Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle’s pair Churchill’s Choice and Mercy Me in gallops at Broadmeadow.

HAWKESBURY RACE DATES

He will continue his successful association with Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner and Scone Cup runner-up Churchill’s Choice in the $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) for fillies and mares, and Mercy Me will contest the Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds, at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Bayliss also rode Mercy Me when she was narrowly beaten by Miss Freelove in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at the Scone carnival on May 16.

“Mercy Me got tired the last bit at Scone, and will have taken improvement from that first-up run,” Doyle’s racing manager David Dyson said today.

“Churchill’s Choice is in great form, and excellent order and deserves her chance at such a rich prizemoney race against her own sex.

“Regan rode both horses work on the Beaumont track, and they will be floated to Queensland tomorrow night.

“Nathan will fly there on Friday to saddle them in their respective races on Saturday.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JUNE 2, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS