Mr Bowen and Pat Taaffe win the Dingle Derby© Photo Healy Racing
The Taaffe name, synonymous with jump racing, today ticked off a famous ‘flat’ win as young Pat Taaffe, son of trainer Tom Taaffe won today’s 2016 renewal of the Dingle Derby, on Mr Bowen.
The famous race has been the starting point for many successful jockey careers and Taaffe today steered Mr Bowen to a four lengths win over Ya Wee Skitter, under Rossa Ryan, in another fiercely contested race.
The winner made all the running, and having set a good gallop, slowed the pace down after a mile before quickening with three furlongs to race before maintaining his clear lead inside the final furlong.
Taaffe’s mother Elaine was thrilled with the result and later said “it’s a great day for young Pat - I’m so proud of him, and he still has a lot to learn with the Taaffe name!”
Taaffe junior later added “they don’t call him (Mr Bowen) ‘the grey destroyer’ for nothing and I was always happy. If anything came to him he always pulls out more - what a horse!”
As is customary in flapping circles, jockeys carry the racing silks of their own choosing, with Taaffe using Dr Jim and Fitri Hay's Group 1 winning colours, also carried to success by his father Tom Taaffe's smart jumper Argocat.
By Tom Weekes
