Derry Greyhounds: Starcash Barry sparkles on All The Luck In Life Gala Night

PICTURED ABOVE: Brandywell; Race 4; the PAT & KITTY O GOAN MEMORIAL 525 sponsored by Eamon O’Goan was won by LYE IN WAIT in 30.07. Paddy Devlin (centre) was presented with the winner’s trophy by Enda O’Goan. Enda’s dad Eamon along with his brother Jude is on right of photo. Eamon’s wife Ciara is on left of photo with her daughter Orla. Charlene O’Goan (left of centre) is holding her son Calum.

There was an eight race all sponsored programme for the annual All The Luck In Life Gala Night at Brandywell.

First to earn a place on the podium was Niall McGhee’s home bred Josies Tenner (Pestana x Nemesis, Apr ’24) who won the John McCafferty Memorial Sprint which was sponsored by John’s daughter Diane Orr. Evenly away from trap 4, Tenner was lying midfield as the field arrived at the first bend, but he flashed around the outside of runners to go several lengths clear in what was a decisive move.

He ran on well to secure the win by 4.5 lengths in 17.16. This was only his second career start and it was lovely to see Nemesis’s legacy carrying on through her son. Only time will tell whether Tenner will hit the top class open level that Nemesis achieved.

Eddie Hurson sponsored the Paddy Bell Memorial Sprint in respect of the good friendship they had. It was race 2 on the programme and it went the way of Dees Krona (Broadstrand Bono x Nialls Krona, Jul ’23) for Shaun Eastwood. Krona made it a quick fire double after his win last week. Fast away from trap 2, he looked to have the race under control at the first bend but only held off the late challenge of Curraheen Coco by a neck in 17.40.

Race 3, the Nora Watson Memorial Sprint was sponsored by her son Graham. There was a titanic battle in this race between the Raymond Patterson owned and Kieran Morgan trained Skywalker Voyage (Dorotas Wildcat x Skywalker Cilla, Nov ’23) in trap 1 and Gortin Dan in trap 3. Dan was the faster away from traps but Voyage got up his inside at the crown of the first bend to gain a narrow lead.

Dan tracked the bends better than his rival who swung out wide entering the home straight which briefly gave Dan the advantage. But as the pair passed the 500 yard boxes, Voyage’s stamina kicked in and he went on to win by a neck in 17.14 on what was his racing debut.

Eamon O’Goan and family were once again involved with this annual event and Eamon sponsored the Pat & Kitty O’Goan Memorial 525 in his parent’s memory. Moderately away from trap 1, Patrick Devlin’s Lye In Wait (Grangeview Ten x Kilbride Ruby, Oct ’23) tucked in behind the early leader Ballyquin Tilly as they turned the first bend.

Brandywell; Shaun Eastwood was presented with the Meenagh Kennels Trophy after Dees Krona was voted our favourite performer at the 8th September 2025 race meeting. The trophy was sponsored by Micky Corr & presented by Caeleen Anderson.

He tracked the first two bends very well and entered the back straight in a close second place. The pair battled for the lead but Lye In Wait took the inside path at the third bend and was in command entering the home straight. He ran on well to win by 2.25 lengths in 30.07.

The veteran Starcash Barry (Droopys Noah x Lightfoot Marie, Aug ’21) was once again paw perfect at the circuit when winning the Robert Bonner Memorial 500. Fast away from trap 1, he saw of all challengers. Honey Cash was upsides him at the first turn but couldn’t make his effort count and it was left to Spiritinthesky to throw down the gauntlet.

She gave 100% effort but the relentless Barry knew exactly where the winning line was and he dug deep to win by a short head in 28.55. Owned by Dean Toland, Barry is incredibly gutsy and determined.

He absolutely thrives on his racing and his experience, track craft and pace is often more than a match for speedy youngsters.

Race 6 the Jason Baxter Memorial 500 was a match race and it was sponsored by Charlie Baxter in memory of his son. Whilst Eager Colm was the short priced favourite, it was Dermot Coney’s Shrewd Stories (Dorotas Wildcat x Shrewd Clover, Sep ’21) that made every yard of the running to win by an impressive 9.5 lengths in 29.14.

Brandywell Race 8, The FRANK & JOSEPH MUNROE MEMORIAL SPRINT was sponsored by Stephen & Leontia Munroe and it was won by GENEROUS CASHOUT in 17.12. Charlie Baxter (right) with Paul Orr who presented the trophy on the sponsors behalf.

With his 4th birthday just a few days away, this lad still showed plenty of zest for racing.

Miss Manage (Ballymac Cashout x Jaytee Jordan, Apr ’24) is a new recruit from Youghal for Peter Farrell. It will be interesting to see how her career progresses as she has a 30.19 trial win over the 525 yards on her card when she was only 15 months old. She took part in race 7, the Donald McGarry Memorial 500 that was kindly sponsored by his son Patrick. Miss Manage is the daughter of the 2018 Irish Oaks winner who has thrown top athlete Longacres Gordon in a previous litter so the pedigree gives plenty of encouragement that Miss Manage may well have an exciting future.

Stephen and Leontia Munroe were generous sponsors of the finale, the Frank & Joseph Munroe Memorial Sprint. Charlie Baxter’s home bred Generous Cashout (Ballymac Best x Generous Daisy, Sep ’22) was fast away from trap 3 and had enough early pace to lead at the first turn. He did however swing off so wide entering the home straight that he was at one point running on the grass on the other side of the hare rail.

That did not hinder him in any way and he ran on very well to win in 17.12 by 5.5 lengths.

Thanks must go to all sponsors and everyone who took part in the 5th annual running of this event. And thanks must also go to the Brandywell Management Team who hosted the event for us and our canine athletes.

Despite the inclement weather over the past weekend, a decent crowd journeyed to Lifford Stadium and they saw the stalwart Cloneden Flash make it back-to-back wins in the concluding race on Saturday night.

Fast approaching his fifth birthday, ‘Flash’ was looking to seal a seventeenth career victory and he duly obliged as he produced his customary trap-to-line performance.

Jointly owned by Paul O’Donnell and Enda Currie, the son of Makeshift and Madabout Bella was perfectly drawn in two and he trapped well to post a slick 2.67 sectional. In doing so, he quickly galloped to the front but was challenged throughout by both Ballybun Darkie and Mad For Action.

Brandywell Race 1, the JOHN McCAFFERTY MEMORIAL SPRINT was won by JOSIE'S TENNER in 17.16. Pictured with the sponsor Diane Orr who presented winning owner Niall McGhee with the winner’s trophy. On the right is Darragh McGhee.

The prolific Cloneden Flash proved a tough nut to crack, however. Finding a second wind around the bottom two bends, the strapping performer came up the hill well to cross the line two lengths clear of the staying-on Harrowgatetownbaz in second. The time was 29.34.

Prior to that, there was a nice double for the Paul Whyte kennel as both Fridays Ariana and Fridays Nigeria prevailed. The former was the first to score in the opening race of the night, which was a Novice 325. Drawn in three, the 3/1 chance showed the best of the early gears and she cut the nose off of Drumdoit Rosie at the opener to go clear.

Thereafter, the daughter of Burgess Bucks – Fridays Macushla galloped on gamely to see off her rival by three parts of a length. The double was secured in race five as Fridays Nigeria ran to a virtual solo from trap five. A 2/1 chance, ‘Nigeria’ broke with intent from her wide berth and quickly asserted ahead of the well-fancied Stouke Trump in one. In doing so, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Corner Daisy soared up the home straight to see off her persistent rival by a half-length. The time was a slick 17.69.

On the SIS card, there was a 100/1 hat-trick for the kennel of Cathal McGhee. It was Ardnasool Ezme that got the ball rolling in race three as she just held on to seal a sixth career win.

Drawn in six, the daughter of Pestana – Droopys Esther showed the superior early speed and she swept the opening bend to lead comfortably. Thereafter, she maintained a decent gallop and the line came just in time as she held on by a decreasing head. The time was 29.63. Shortly after, Tippenyaki bounced back to winning ways at odds of 4/1.

Brandywell; Race 3, The NORA WATSON MEMORIAL SPRINT sponsored by Graham Watson. It was won by SKYWALKER VOYAGE in 17.14. Pictured with (from right) Frank Rooney, then trainer Seamus Morgan receiving the trophy from Brandon McLaughlin with Brandon’s parents Martina & Brendan McLaughlin behind him.

Normally seen as a trap-to-line tracker, the son of Dorotas Wildcat showed a different thread to his bow this time around as he came from off-the-pace to win by three parts of a length from the unlucky Strike It Dolly in second. The time was 29.74.

The treble was completed in the very next race as Castlehill Jet doubled his career tally with a masterclass of early pace. Fastest into stride from five, the striking brindle and white shot into what looked an unassailable lead down the back.

However, stamina is a limitation of this August whelp and he just saw the trip out in crossing the line three parts of a length clear of Fridays Style in second. The time was 29.63.