THE class of 2024 were back on the road bright and early on Sunday morning for the trip to the sunny South East and the Taghmon races.

Julian Pietropaolo was the man to follow with four winners on a track that he made his own on the 10-race programme.

It was a big day too for local jockeys Adam Grant and Lily Walsh while Keano Goff rode his first career winner.

Ballynoe jockey Julian Pietropaolo began his winning spree when Down Mexico Way bounced right back to form after a blip in Athea the previous weekend. The Pat Collins/Maurice Ahern charge led early in the final circuit and ran on strongly with Athea winner Little Sadie in second for Camillus Byrne.

Julian was quickly back in the winner’s enclosure following another Baby Caro rout in the 14.2hh contest over 12 furlongs. This rapidly improving pony was always in command for a six-length victory over Pacman.

Baby Caro is likely to contest the opening night 14.2hh race in Dingle before stepping in to open company a day later for the Golden Mile.

Kildare challenger Here We Go Again, who won the Ballysteen Derby, renewed winning ways with a pillar-to-post victory in the two-mile race from Shane Crabbe’s debutante She’s A Freebie and Nicola Burns.

Different proposition

The winner had failed to fire the night before in Portsalon’s soft ground but was a completely different proposition here. Julian judged the fractions to perfection once again and had plenty in hand for a snug two-length victory at the line.

Julian combined with Limerick trainer Kathy Flannery for his four-timer when Heartbreak Hill landed the concluding maiden contest. The Ballynoe rider dictated matters from the front and ran on strongly up the straight with Mr James nearest at the finish in second place. The winner is likely to reappear in Drumconrath tomorrow.

Rosslare jockey Adam Grant renewed his association with the brilliant Chloe’s Sam to land the featured Monbeg Stables Derby over 10 furlongs. Right On Time tried to make most of the running here before Adam struck for home with three furlongs left to run.

Despite a battling effort from Right On Time, Shane Crabbe’s chesnut was always travelling that bit better and prevailed by a snug length and a half at the line. Adam is based with Henry de Bromhead at Knockeen for the summer before returning to school in September.

The large local crowd were again in jubilant mood following Lily Walsh’s victory on Bubba Watson in the 15hh race over a mile and a half.

Robert White’s multiple Dingle winner was never out of second gear here and will now head back to the festival with every chance of adding to his impressive C.V. The victory completed a good week for Lily who enjoyed a big victory in the ridden horse show ring at the Bannow and Rathangan Show in Killag on Thursday.

Twelve-year-old Keano Goff who made his debut in Athea, opened the card in style when giving South Of The Border a peach of a drive to win the 12.2hh race. Held up early doors, the Pat Collins-owned pony led well before the straight and had plenty in hand over Hello Boy at the line.

Bright recruits

Keano joins Billy Roberts as two of our bright recruits from the 12.2hh division this season. Keano is now looking forward to the trip to Dingle with South Of The Border who has been runner-up there for the last three years.

Kian McNally who had three winners from three rides the previous night in Portsalon maintained his perfect record for the weekend when Living The Dream put up a most impressive performance to win the mile event. Held up at the back, Living The Dream made smooth progress to lead off the home turn before drawing away for a six-length victory.

The winner will have a choice of engagements from the 15hh and open horse division in Dingle.

Dylan O’Connor maintained his winning association with Katie Taylor who landed the 14hh race over 10 furlongs for Clarecastle owner Shane Kerin. This pony is now all set to reappear in Drumconrath before attempting to defend her Dingle crown next month.

The local race in Taghmon is always ultra-competitive and this year’s renewal was certainly no exception.

We could well have found another pony racing star of the future in Frankie Motherway who gave Shanacoole an ice cool drive to land the spoils.

Results, Sunday, July 14th

12.2HH (6F): 1, P. Collins SOUTH OF THE BORDER (Keano Goff); 2, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO BOY (Dylan O’Connor); 3, L. Lynch’s TINY DANCER (Billy Roberts).

13.2HH (10F): 1, P. Collins/M. Ahern’s DOWN MEXICO WAY (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, W. McGrath’s LITTLE SADIE (Camillus Byrne); 3, Curly Syndicate’s HELLO STAR (Dylan O’Connor).

14HH (10F): 1, S. Kerin’s KATIE TAYLOR (Dylan O’Connor).

14.2HH (12F): 1, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor’s BABY CARO (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, J. Walsh/P. Collins PACMAN (Lily Walsh); 3, S. Bergin’s SKY (Patrick McGettigan).

15HH (12F): 1, R. White’s BUBBA WATSON (Lily Walsh); 2, M. Tynan’s THE SNAPPER (Jimmy Dalton); 3, K. Kerin’s ANNIE POWER (Sophie Kerin).

Open Horse Race (1M): 1, Dream Team Partnership’s LIVING THE DREAM (Kian McNally); 2, Finnerty Families MAVERICK (Nicola Burns); 3, K. Flannery’s THE DOSS HOUSE (Julian Pietropaolo).

Monbeg Stables Derby (10F): 1, S. Crabbe’s CHLOE’S SAM (Adam Grant); 2, M. Ahern/P. O’Connor’s RIGHT ON TIME (Julian Pietropaolo); 3, Finnerty Families CARAMORE (Nicola Burns).

Open Horse Race (2M): 1, All For Sale Syndicate’s HERE WE GO AGAIN (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, S. Crabbe’s SHE’S A FREEBIE (Nicola Burns); 3, S. Crabbe’s BIPOLAR BLONDIE (Reese Holohan).

Maiden Horse Race (12F): 1, K. Flannery’s HEARTBREAK HILL (Julian Pietropaolo); 2, Finnerty Families MR JAMES (Nicola Burns); 3, S. Crabbe’s BRANDY & GINGER ALE (Reese Holohan).

Local Pony Race (6F): 1, SHANACOOLE (Frankie Motherway) 2, JUMPING DALE (Ruby Cousins); 3, BARRIER MARTINI (Katie Motherway).