Trainer darting back a winner following cancer battle

By Jordan Gerrans

After a decade fighting multiple myeloma, Deagon trainer Ray Dart is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

And, he is doing so on the health front as well as with the small team he prepares in Brisbane’s north.

The 70-year-old has spent more than a decade in the training wilderness after being diagnosed with the blood cancer.

He had a couple of runners in the 2015-16 season but it was way back in the term of 2011-12 that Dart completed a full season of training.

Dart admits he has ‘been through the wringer’ when it comes to his health but he is back doing what he loves now – training winners alongside his family who help around the stables. 

He collected his first winner back in his current training stint when Watermelon got the money in a midweek city meeting in early May and since then he has quickly racked up a handful more.

The veteran trainer is chuffed with the results he has produced since then, including stable star Cherbourg winning his last three on the bounce, headlined by his latest triumph on the Polytrack at the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon.

After racing around the mile in his last four starts, Cherbourg stepped it up to 1900 metres in his latest outing and continued his winning ways with a strong on-pace showing.

“He is a real fighter, he lays his ears back and fights to the line,” the veteran trainer said of Cherbourg.

“He does not like getting beaten, which is a really good sign. I have had a couple of horses over the years that try really hard and that is what he does.

“He is going really good and we are really pleased with the horse. It has been really exciting over the last few weeks and we have had some friends come to the races with us who scream and enjoy it all."

Dart has been able to return to the training ranks in the Sunshine State after making the bold decision to begin an experimental treatment for his cancer.

On the back of the new medical care, Dart has gone into remission for the first time in a decade.

Dart’s wife Kerrie – who also owns a decent share in Cherbourg - lauded the staff at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital for their ‘marvellous’ work to get her husband back on the right path.

Multiple myeloma is an incurable disease.

“I have been through the wringer,” Dart said.

“I have had a couple of bone marrow transplants and have received chemotherapy every week for the last decade or so.”

But, after starting his new treatment, the former trainer started to get a spring in his step and as they say – the rest is history.

“I said to the wife after taking it that I was starting to feel a bit better,” Dart said.

“I was keen to start training again but she told me I was mad.

“I thought what was the point of sitting around being sick, I thought I better try and do something.

“I bought horses and away I went – I do love the horses, so I just came back to them. We have had a lot of fun since then.”

Cherbourg has won on four occasions since transferring to Dart’s barn while he has also picked up a winner each with I Am Voodoo and Watermelon.

Cherbourg started his career with Tom Dabernig in Victoria before being purchased online by Dart.

The son of Fastnet Rock should progress onwards from his 1900 metre victory, the returning trainer believes.

“We have been stepping him up in distance and he really loves it,” the Deagon conditioner said.

“He might get up to 2400 metres, that would be nice if he could.

“He keeps improving. He has placed in almost every start for me.”

Dart plans to head back to the Polytrack next month with the four-year-old stayer-in-the-making.

Watermelon has not long returned from a freshen-up and will have his second run back at Ipswich Turf Club on Friday in the Colts, Geldings and Entires Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1350 metres.

Dart is quietly confident the gelding will perform well.

He previously was based at Eagle Farm and at Dubbo in his earlier stints training before his lengthy break.

Dart says his stable of horses is a team effort alongside his son Reece, who is heavily involved, as well as being in the connections of a few of the gallopers.