Derry Greyhounds: Starcash sets the Bar-ry high for the Quigley Memorial

The first round heats got underway on Monday at Brandywell for all the competitions that will culminate with their respective Finals on the prestigious annual Track Lotto Gala Night in a few weeks time.

Jim Connor’s Leathems Bluey (Pestana x Kuma Mary Lou, Nov ’23) relinquished his maiden tag on his sixth career start in Race 1; the Managers Select Sprint first round, heat 1. Bluey was fast away from trap 3 and led from trap to line. His time was 17.14 and he won by a convincing 5 lengths.

Heat 2 of the same competition was decided in Race 2 when Patsy Doyle’s Brandywell Pride (Broadstrand Bono x Velvet Holly, Oct ’21), who will be 4 years old in October, showed she still has that competitive streak, adding a 7th win to her record.

She was fast away from trap 1 but lacked the early pace to stay ahead of her rivals. However, she held her pitch on the inside rail as those in front of her moved wide and crowed each other at the first turn. Pride slipped through the gap and rallied on well up the home straight to win by 1 length in 17.71.

The first heat of the Benny Barrett Memorial Sprint was Race 3 on the programme and a polished performance by Catunda Chloe (Ballymac Best x Swallow, Aug ’21) for owner trainer William Mullan secured her place in the next round. Fast away from trap 5, Chloe made every yard of the running to win by 3.25 lengths in 16.99. This was a 7th win for her as she approaches the veteran stage of her career.

Catunda Quinn (Ballymac Anton x Cabra Diva, Feb ’22) took up the baton in Race 4, the Bill McKinney Memorial 500, Heat 1. Owner trained by Stephen Radcliffe, Quinn was well away from trap 2 and was hot on the heels of the early leader Champagne Jet. Quinn kept up a relentless gallop and got the better of Jet turning for home. He kept on up the home straight to win by 3.5 lengths from Cals Range in a time of 27.99.

It was a night for the soon to be veterans with the evergreen Starcash Barry (Droopys Noah, Lightfoot Marie, Aug ’21) turning Race 5, heat 1 of the Billy & Sheila Quigley Memorial 525 into a procession. Racing from the 4 box, Barry was a trap to line winner by 7 lengths in 29.45. It was a 15th career success for this fantastic hound of Dean Toland’s.

Race 6 was Heat 1 of the Bookmakers 500 and Leslie Hunter’s Maggies Return made the most of her trap 1 draw to notch up a 4th career success. Only moderately away from trap 1, Maggie got to the first turn in second place but was narrowing the gap on the leader approached the third turn. She took the outside route on the bends and stayed on best up the straight to win by 2.75 lengths and clock 28.59.

Heat 2 of this event was won by the fast early pacer Ballyquin Tilly (King Elvis x Townsend Beauty, Oct ’23). Kirsty Harpur’s Tilly made every yard of the running to win by half a length in 28.58. She was gutsy and game out in front and was rewarded with a third success from only 8 starts.

Brandywell; Daisy Rouse was presented with the Generous Kennels Trophy by Charlie Baxter after Reneas Boy was voted favourite performer at our 2nd June 2025 meeting

The last race of the night went to the incredibly consistent and prolific Diegos Manna (Premier Fantasy x Sidarian Fern, Jul ’22). Noted for his 4 bend prowess, Diego showed he was more than a one trick pony by winning a hot sprint event by 0.75 lengths in 16.92. Racing from trap 4, he had to relinquish the early lead to Shesanicelady but Diego ran around her outside on the bends and had the better stamina on the home straight. With 5 wins at Brandywell in 2025 so far, he currently leads the League Table for Dog With Most Wins. His nearest rivals have 3 wins this year.

The semi finals of the June Novice 325 featured on Saturday night’s card at Lifford Stadium and there was no doubting the star of the show as Saorlaith produced a memorable performance to romp home in the second semi final. Trained by Eddie Hurson, this strapping 76-pound lady qualified in style but had no excuses on debut when finishing third behind impressive first round winner, Moyola Eitlean.

However, the January 24 puppy clearly learned plenty from her debut outing as she dominated from the outset to clock a scarecely believable 17.56. Sent off as the 6/4 second favourite, the daughter of King Sheeran – Ceilo popped out nicely from two and in doing so, immediately accelerated away from her rivals.

Thereafter, it was all one-way traffic as Saorlaith drew clear to cross the line five and a three parts of a length clear of Longvale Hannah in second.

In the opening semi, Glenbervie Dylan made it back-to-back wins as he held on gamely to deny Saoirses Girl. ‘Dylan’ broke best of all from two and he showed the superior early dash to lead at the opening. However, the son of Coolavanny Hoffa swung alarmingly wide off the final turn, which allowed his rivals back into the contest. A thrilling finish in store, ‘Dylan’ just held on by a neck in 17.88. Ahead of the final this weekend, it would be impossible to oppose Saorlaith as she has several lengths up her sleeve and should prevail with a clear passage.

Brandywell; Race 2, Managers Select 300 For Gala Night , Rd 1 Ht 1 was won by BRANDYWELL PRIDE in 17.71. Pictured with Ciara Ming (left) holding Elea and Elea’s sister Ceallach on the right of photo. Martin Doyle is holding the winner.

Over the standard trip on Saturday, it was Drveen Lass that went quickest as Jim Joe McGrath’s bitch solidified her status as one of the track specialists at Lifford. Installed as the even money favourite from a good draw in red, the daughter of Burgess Bucks used her draw to recover from a moderate break and lead. Holding a narrow lead over Cappaneale Bono down the back, McGrath’s charge upped the ante off the final bend to storm up the hill and win by one and a half lenghts from ‘Bono’ in second. The time was 29.07.

On Sunday’s SIS card, there was one standout performance and that came in the concluding race of the evening as A Sweet Damsel blitzed her rivals.

Trained by Martin Gallagher for Kyle McCarron, despite the downgrade this lady was freely available at huge odds of 13/2 and she started with intent with a rocket break from trap three. Posting an incredible 2.51 sectional, the daughter of King Sheeran had already opened a four length lead over Brora entering the back straight. A stout stayer, the lead only increased thereafter as she obliterated her rivals to cross the line ten lengths clear of Roanna Due in second. The time was an exceptional 28.96.