Sam Ewing, well known to point-to-point racegoers as the son of leading handler Warren Ewing, enjoyed a day to remember at Cork Racecourse on Saturday when he recorded his first success on the track.
The 16-year-old, who has been one of the leading riders on the pony racing circuit, riding his 100th winner in that sphere last August having also won the prestigious Dingle Derby, had made his racing debut at Roscommon last month for Ger Lyons.
It was for the Lyons yard that he is attached to that his memorable first success came courtesy of, when stable stalwart Ardhoomey won the valuable Doneraile Handicap at the Mallow venue.
Positioned in mid-division by the ten-pound claiming apprentice, the eight-year-old kept on strongly in the closing stages to get the better of his stable mate My Laureate by three quarters of a length in the €40,000 contest.
Following the victory, winning trainer Ger Lyons told IrishRacing.com: “Sam, 16, is a great little kid who joined us this year and I worked with his father in Micky Hammond's 30 years ago.
“He has great and natural feedback, is a good kid and if he doesn't get any bigger or greedier like his father he has a chance!”
Ewing has followed his father Warren into race-riding with the now successful handler having recorded 95 successes between the flags from 1987 to 2003.
It's a 1-2 for @gerlyonsracing after Ardhoomey gets the better of My Laureate to land the Doneraile Handicap under Sam Ewing %uD83D%uDC4F pic.twitter.com/nTIklOhcKf
— Cork Racecourse (@corkracecourse) August 8, 2020
