A GOLD STANDARD RESULT WITHOUT DOUBT

FRIDAY: April 24, 2026: IT was a gold standard result of many colours!

Not only did Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan win his first race with online buy Silk Lace at Newcastle yesterday, but the aptly-named filly also gave her managing part-owner Michael Atkins and apprentice Emma Ly a real boost.

To put the icing on the cake, both Atkins and Ly are attached to Ryan’s stable.

Long-time racing afficionado Atkins works for the trainer, and Ly is apprenticed to him.

“Michael wasn’t working for trainer Gordon Yorke at the time, but strapped Fire Oak when he won the 1990 Victoria Derby at Flemington as a maiden,” Ryan said last night.

“He was thinking about taking out a licence and training Silk Lace when he bought her online after she won a 900m trial at Scone in October last year.

“But he decided to give her to me to train.

“Michael is away on a cruise at present, so he would have got a great ‘kick’ out of the win.

“Emma won on Heaven Bound for me at home last December, and has not long been back from an injury.

“She had five rides at Queanbeyan earlier in the week, and yesterday’s win (her 40^th) will certainly boost her confidence.”

Having only her third start and first since December, Silk Lace ($7.50) – a daughter of 2017 Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) winner Gold Standard (by Golden Slipper winner Sebring) – followed up a recent Kembla Grange 800m barrier trial victory by upsetting fancied pair Artemex ($2.30 favorite) and Reign ‘Em in ($2.40) in the Maiden Handicap (900m).

“Silk Lace began well and shared the lead with Reign ‘Em In, then had a good battle with that filly in the straight before edging clear and then held out Artemex’s late finish,” Ryan said.

“She did a good job.

“Provided she pulls up well, we will go back to Newcastle in a few weeks for a Midway Class 1 Handicap over the same distance (900m).”

Silk Lace was Ryan’s seventh winner of the season – and 51^st career triumph.

But it would be even better if some of his 14 seconds had instead been winners.

“Obviously I would have liked to have won more so far this season (15 last season), but our 72 runners so far is well below last season’s 136,” Ryan said.

Ryan had hoped for a Newcastle double, but stablemate Midori Giant ($6.50) finished second to Wyong trainer Nacim Dilmi’s Emerald Hills ($10) in the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1850m).

“He had beaten Emerald Hills first-up at Hawkesbury, but that mare turned the tables,” he said.

“Midori Giant had every chance, though with 61kg topweight he conceded the winner 4.5kg.”