RYAN'S SMOKE 'N' DARTS GIVES HIM 10 FOR THE SEASON
- John Curtis
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
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 10th 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.
