Ryan came off Lord Tardy in the third earlier in the Gilgandra Cup program. He was helped from the track by paramedics before telling emergency services he was fine.

He then left the ambulance still visibly clutching at his shoulder, before later guiding Cameron Crockett’s promising mare to a commanding win over the mile in a field that included reigning two-time Gilgandra Cup champion Lancelot.

It’s the five-year-old mare’s sixth win of her career, while in the young Mudgee-based trainer’s three races at Gilgandra for the Hardy family, Crockett has come up trumps all three times – the latest in the $35,000 feature race at Gilgandra in searing 43 degree heat.

“It is (a bit of a happy hunting ground),” Crockett said.

Artistic Beauty ($3) had to battle early speed from Connie Greig’s flier Our Sarastro ($26) and equal race favourite Try ‘n’ Run A Muck ($3) but, to Crockett’s surprise, his chestnut miler made her move earlier than expected.

Normally comfortable towards the rear of the field before shifting up several gears and relying on a thunderous run down the home straight, Ryan was forced to go early due mainly to the Gilgandra Jockey Club’s dainty final furlong.

And it worked a treat.

Despite Our Sarastro’s brilliant run over the opening 1400 metres, Ryan surged on board Crockett's chance to complete 10 Gilgandra Cup wins.

Try ‘N’ Run A Muck finished two lengths back in second place while Nissile ($11) rounded out the placings a further length back.

“With Greg, on tracks like this, he’s too good. He knows them so well," Crockett said in homage to the champion bush hoop.

“She’s got a really good turn of foot but we never intended on being in top two or three at that point in the race.

“She deserves this.”

Crockett’s father Max had one of the early favourites, Lancelot, an eight-year-old veteran aiming to win a third Gilgandra Cup after saluting with Mathew Cahill on board in 2017.

But the bay gelding battled late in the piece to eventually finish in eighth place.

After enjoying the early moments of victory, it didn’t take Cameron Crockett long to point Artistic Beauty in the direction of another cup race.

“I’m keen to try and win a race in town with her, but the Cowra Cup’s in two weeks, that may be it,” he added.

Past winners of the Gilgandra Cup include the Max Crockett trained Lancelot in 2017 and Peter Nestor’s Tuliman in 2016.