THE southern region meeting in Taghmon, Co Wexford had the stage to itself last weekend and it proved to be a memorable day for Sean Bowen and Ava Sugrue, both of whom registered their first winners.

Thirteen-year-old Clonmel jockey Sean Bowen made his breakthrough on Crystal Lady in the first split of the 14.2hh race. Sean sent the Tyner Syndicate-owned mare to the front from the flag-fall and he judged the fractions to perfection to win by two lengths from Its Father Ted under Julie McDonald.

Having previously won a few local/novice rider races, Tralee rider Ava Sugrue made her open race breakthrough in the second division of the 14.2hh race bringing Top Of The Charts through to lead two furlongs out and then staying on strongly to lead from early pacesetter Sandycove.

Riding honours

Dylan Browne-McMonagle doesn’t let the travel put him off his quest for winners and the Letterkenny rider took the day’s riding honours with a treble.

He kicked off with Farmer Boyce in the 10-furlong 15hh contest where he got the better of a tenacious rival in the Danny King-ridden Xantico inside the last 50 yards.

The double was secured in the mile race where Let’s Roll drew clear over the final two furlongs to win for Dylan’s family Team Browne partnership.

The Ben Daly-owned and trained Thunder Storm made it a Dylan treble in the 12-furlong race as he got up in the last 50 yards under a strong drive.

Racing opened with the perfect result for the locals as Conor Stone Walsh pushed out South Of The Border to see off a brave effort from the veteran Tail To Tail in the 12.2hh contest.

The 13.2hh race came down to a match between Hello Thunder and Sore Looser over the final half-mile with victory going to the Ed Vaughan-ridden Hello Thunder with possession of the inside berth proving decisive for the front-running winner.

The featured two-mile Taghmon Derby went to the Batsy Maher-owned The Boss who stayed-on dourly to hold off the Philip Byrnes-ridden Bash It On by a length.

Rider Gearoid Brouder went on to complete a double by taking the finale as The Black Gnat reeled in the Brian Barry-ridden That’s The Deal to come out the right side of a photo-finish for Kilkea, Co. Kildare owner Martin McGuane.

Sam Ewing teamed up with Athy, Co. Kildare owner Tom Fennelly to land the 10-furlong race with Storm Force, with another Kildare horse, Bipolar Blondie, taking the runner-up spot for Aidan Melia.

Results

12.2HH Race (7F): 1, P. Collins SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Conor Stone Walsh); 2, Three County Syndicate’s TAIL TO TAIL (Dylan O’Connor); 3, Curly Syndicate’s ANOTHER TIGER (Ed Vaughan).

13.2HH Race (9F): 1, P.A. O’Sullivan’s HELLO THUNDER (Ed Vaughan); 2, J. O’Sullivan’s SORE LOOSER (Daniel King); 3, F. Brickley’s RINGO (Finn Brickley).

14.2HH Race Div. 1 (10F): 1, Tyner Syndicate’s CRYSTAL LADY (Sean Bowen); 2, D.F. Racing’s IT’S FATHER TED (Julie McDonald); 3, P. Collins/K. Walsh’s TWO MAJORS (Conor Stone Walsh).

14.2HH Race Div. 2 (10F): 1, Farmer Bridge Syndicate’s TOP OF THE CHARTS (Ava Sugrue); 2, Curly Syndicate’s SANDYCOVE (Daniel King); 3, Tyner Syndicate’s LEVEL HEADED (Sean Bowen).

15HH Race (10F): 1, Three County Syndicate’s FARMER BOYCE (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, Castle Racing’s XANTICO (Daniel King); 3, O’Connor/Maher’s SHE’S A BELTER (Sam Ewing).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, Team Browne’s LET’S ROLL (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, M. McGuane’s THE TRAIN (Conor McGrath); 3, A. Ott’s THE LAST MINUTE (Luke Burke Ott).

Open Horse Race (10F): 1, T. Fennelly’s STORM FORCE (Sam Ewing); 2, A. Melia’s BIPOLAR BLONDIE (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 3, M. McGuane’s BANNED SUBSTANCE (Conor McGrath).

Taghmon Derby (2M): 1, B. Maher’s THE BOSS (Gearoid Brouder); 2, C. Byrnes BASH IT ON (Philip Byrnes); 3, K. Murphy’s ANOTHER LEGEND (Sam Ewing).

Open Horse Race (12F): 1, B. Daly’s THUNDER STORM (Dylan Browne McMonagle); 2, B. Maher’s MAN OF STEEL (Gearoid Brouder); 3, Deelview Racing’s BUBBA WATSON (Philip Byrnes).

Maiden Horse Race (10F): 1, M. McGuane’s THE BLACK GNAT (Gearoid Brouder); 2, Dream Team Racing’s THAT’S THE DREAM (Brian Barry); 3, P. O’Connor’s THAT’S OUR GROUSE (Dylan Browne McMonagle).

Southern Region: The next meeting are in Caherciveen, Co. Kerry tomorrow, Sunday with a 1.30pm start. Dunmanway in Cork then sees the combined Ballabuidhe Gallop and Trot Meeting on the Sunday and Monday of the August Bank Holiday weekend

Northern Region: The next meeting takes place in Big Isle near Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, tomorrow with the first off at 2.30pm. Bank Holiday Monday August 5th sees Ballintra Races near Murvagh in Co Donegal kick off at 2pm.

Midlands Region: The region are in Clifden where Errismore Races take place beside Ballyconneely Golf Club tomorrow, Sunday with a 1pm start. The famous Omey Strand Races in Claddaghduff take place on Sunday August 4th at 1pm.