< Meow looks to have a huge future after getting off the mark in spectacular style in the I.T.B.A Southern Region Supporting Irish Breeders Maiden.

Sent off at 1-5 after a perfectly creditable debut second at Dundalk, David Wachman's beautifully-bred filly asserted a furlong out in the hands of Johnny Murtagh and eased seven lengths clear.

Wachman said: "She's a nice filly and she's very fast. She got a bit tired in Dundalk the last day.

"She's improved a lot since her first run. She's very mature, strong and fast.

"We hope to go for the Queen Mary in Ascot now."

Red-hot favourite Eskimo looked very hard to oppose in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden and so it proved as Murtagh's mount won with plenty in hand at odds of 2-11.

Winning trainer Aidan O'Brien was represented by Pat Keating, who said: "He did that very well and he's really come on from his first run."

Murtagh quickly followed up as the Edward Lynam-trained Jembatt was another to impress in taking the ITBA Working For Irish Breeders (C & G) Maiden.

Terry Flynn, who was representing Lynam, said: "It just took awhile for the penny to drop with him, he's a very nice horse."

However, connections of seventh-placed Ballyronan Boy were punished by the stewards, who inquired into the running and riding of the three-year-old.

They concluded Ronan Whelan "had made insufficient effort" and banned him for seven racedays. Trainer Michael Connell, who according to the stewards' report confirmed Whelan had ridden to instructions, was fined & euro;1,500 and the horse suspended from racing for 60 days.< Empirico (12-1) finished with a wet sail to land the Y.I.T.B.A Racing Club Handicap for David Marnane and Colm O'Donoghue, who once teamed up to good effect after the big success of Dandy Boy at Ascot earlier in the month.

Marnane said: "He's a lovely horse. I was actually going to pull him out on account of the fast ground but we took a chance and it paid off.

"We might give him a little break now and wait for the softer ground."