THE Ballyash Stud stallion September Storm sired his first track winner at Down Royal last Friday week when Steven Clements landed the Dale Farm INH Flat Race on the 9/2 second favourite, Our Sox.

The five-year-old, who was running on the track for the second time following five mixed efforts in point-to-points, is trained by Brian Hamilton for longtime owner Denis Reddan, breeder of the bay gelding.

Our Sox is the last of nine recorded produce out of Winning Sally who was placed on the flat and in bumpers including at Down Royal. That Lancastrian mare was out of Winning Nora who won twice on the flat, six times over hurdles and three times over fences.

Reddan won a nomination to September Storm through point-to-point sponsorship by the Northern Region of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Our Sox comes from the first crop of the Monsun stallion who was a listed winner over 10 furlongs in his native Germany.

A 12-year-old full-brother to Shirocco, September Storm has had just seven runners under Rules. Before the Down Royal winner, the best of them had been the Denis Hogan-trained Dromrue who finished second on his only start in a Killarney bumper last month. He was bred at Ballyash by John Kidd out of the Saddlers’ Hall mare One For Terry who has since produced four fillies by the stud’s resident stallion.

In the point-to-point sphere, September Storm sired a winner in England last season when Running In Heels, who had been placed here three times, landed her maiden at Godstone at the end of March, justifying even-money favouritism by eight lengths.

In addition to that Seamus Murphy-bred mare, the best of his runners at home to date have been the Martin Cullinane-trained Wind Of Hope, who was second once and third three times in four outings, and Crack Of Thunder.

The latter, who was second on his only start at Loughanmore in April for the Denis Murphy yard, was sold at Brightwells Cheltenham Sale a few days later.

ITBA dinner

THE ITBA (Northern Region) is holding its Breeding and Racing Awards’ dinner on Thursday next, September 11th at the Beechlawn House Hotel, Dunmurry.

The awards ceremony highlights and rewards those breeders, both flat and National Hunt, who have produced winners on the world stage. Tickets, which can be ordered from the ITBA headquarters in Kill, cost £45 per person. The evening includes a drinks reception, four-course dinner and entertainment.

Tasty lot for Newmarket

BREEDER Brian Kennedy will have been pleased to see Spirit Of Xian win her second race of the season at Chester on Saturday as he is consigning her half-brother to the October yearling sales in Newmarket.

Coming up as Lot 977, the bay colt, who is also a half-brother to the dual winner Tout Va Bien, a Verglas filly, comes from the first crop of the high-class two-year-old Lilbourne Lad who stands at Rathbarry Stud.

The 2012 Kodiac filly Spirit Of Xian, who is trained by Richard Hannon and was ridden on Saturday by Sean Levey, also scored on her debut at Newmarket in the middle of April.