I SAT watching the Breeders’ Cup Turf last Saturday evening, hoping for a good run from Ethical Diamond.

This would nicely set up my trip to the Curragh the following morning to watch Dylan Browne McMonagle, my pony racing hero, be crowned Irish champion flat jockey of 2025.

The spine-tingling moments when Dylan and Ethical Diamond ran riot down the Del Mar home straight, to the dismay and shock of the on-course commentary team, is now well and truly ensconced in the annals of Breeders’ Cup history.

The victory, however, marks the arrival once and for all on the international stage of the 22-year-old Donegal jockey, entrusted with the ride by Willie Mullins.

For those of us on the pony racing circuit it was only a matter of time before Dylan would hit the bright lights of world flat racing.

I was first approached by Dylan in May of 2013, although I would have known his parents, Caroline and John, as well as his uncles Adrian and Hugh, from the circuit.

I can still vividly remember the tiny, young, bright and really mannerly and well-spoken 10-year-old boy who was eager to ride Tail To Tail in the 12.2hh pony races, there being no such race category on the North West circuit.

Dylan was nurtured from there by his uncle Adrian, alongside Rossa Ryan, before taking over the mantle when Rossa headed to Richard Hannon’s yard.

To watch Dylan progress on the unforgiving pony racing circuit and go from strength to strength, winning every race at the Dingle Racing Festival - including the Dingle Derby by age 12 - has been a joy to behold.

Two successive pony racing national titles, sponsored by The Irish Field, quickly followed and the articulate, astute and well-grounded young jockey was on his way to bigger and better things.

It was no surprise that Dylan made a quick transition to the next stage of his career at Joseph O’Brien’s yard.

The winners quickly followed, as did two apprentice jockey titles. The well-deserved plaudits have come thick and fast over the past two weeks for the new Irish champion flat jockey. He has lived the dream! However, Dylan has never forgotten his roots. To see him return to the pony racing circuit on any non-racing Sunday is a testament to the calibre of person that he is.

Congratulations Dylan, we are so proud of you and I have no doubt that the best is yet to come at home and abroad!

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