RYAN’S BIG WEEK GOT EVEN BETTER

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IT’s been some week for Blake Ryan!

The Hawkesbury trainer made it three wins in five days when Smoke ’N’ Darts tenaciously clinched a first-up victory at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

The North Pacific four-year-old’s performance followed Ryan’s earlier wins with Just Awesome at Newcastle last Tuesday and Turf Luck at Canberra the day before Smoke ‘N’ Darts scored.

In fact, when the latter won at Kembla Grange, Ryan had won races with his last five starters.

His winning streak began when Green Winter scored at Kembla Grange on September 12, and then Just Awesome won at Newcastle a week later.

“Having such a terrific run is of course great for our stable,” Ryan said today.

“It gives our staff and our owners a lift, and makes you really look forward to getting to work each morning.”

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Both Turf Luck ($2.35 favorite) and Smoke ’N’ Darts ($15) were beginning new campaigns.

Turf Luck (Alysha Collett) at his fourth start bolted away with a Benchmark 50 Handicap (1000m) at Canberra, whilst there was also much to like about Smoke ’N’ Darts’ victory in the Class 1 Handicap (1000m) at Kembla Grange, slender though the margin was.

Ryan said Turf Luck, a Star Turn four-year-old, should have been a winner before he went to Canberra last Friday.

“It was the horse’s fault, and no one else,” he said.

“Turf Luck ran off the track at the 200m when third at Goulburn in January.

“I gave him a good break after he ran second there at his next start, and he has come back well.

“He ran a new class record in scoring by three and a half lengths at Canberra.”

Turf Club started favorite, but stablemate Smoke ’N’ Darts (Mitchell Bell) was at double figure odds, much to his trainer’s surprise.

“He trialled well at home when third in an 800m heat late last month, and the winner Satono Glow brilliantly won the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill yesterday,” Ryan said.

“Jay Ford rode Smoke ‘N’ Darts in the trial, and said afterwards the gelding had gone to a new level.

“Jay was going to ride him yesterday, but the times didn’t work out to go there and also Lady Extreme for me at Rosehill.

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“Smoke ‘N’ Darts is tough as he showed yesterday in a tight finish.

“He is putting together a pretty good record; two wins and three seconds from only five starts.”

Ryan’s winning streak came to an end at Rosehill when a resuming Lady Extreme was unplaced in the Group 3 The Nivision (1100m) at Rosehill.

“The track was too firm for her, but she trotted up well this morning,” Ryan said.

It will be another busy week for the Hawkesbury horseman, who arrived at Inglis’ Riverside complex at Warwick Farm this morning with 18 unraced early two-year-olds for Thursday’s Ready2Race sale.

“I’m really happy with the horse we have prepared for the sale,” Ryan said.

“If you said to me in two years’ time that the majority have won races, I wouldn’t be surprised at all.”

STORY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 12, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS