Derry Greyhounds: Zoos Aerial lands Magua O'Kane Memorial Trophy

Sponsored by Colm McConomy, the Magua O’Kane Memorial 500 was the feature race on a 7 race programme at Brandywell on Monday evening.

Racing got underway with 3 sprint events. It was the Paul & Justin Hughes Dernmore Blue (Ballymac Best x Got The Charm, Jul ’23) that got his first career success on only his second attempt in the opener. Only moderately away from trap 2, he had the most early pace in the race and got to the first bend in front. He was under pressure throughout but wasn’t for being caught and he won by 1 length in 17.42.

There was an eye-catching performance from Oliver Canavan’s homebred Olwinn Bucko (Dromana Bucko x Olwinn Me, Aug ’24) in Race 2 on his career debut. Fast away from trap 6, he pulled away from his rivals down the back straight and with crowding in behind him at the first turn, he increased his lead to 5.75 lengths, crossing the line in 16.89. It was a terrific start to this 15 month old pup’s career.

Rozys Wild (Dorotas Wildcat x Drumcove Rozy, Jun ’24) was another pup that impressed on Monday. She made it two wins from two starts in Race 3 when bursting clear of the pack shortly after leaving the traps. She moved wide on the bends and was under pressure from Shesafunnylady turning from home, but was gutsy enough to rally on for a 1 length victory in 17.04 for Brian Robinson.

The feature race was a real thriller. In form veteran performer Shrewd Stories cut out the early pace with Spiritinthesky turning into the back straight in second place. The eventual winner, Zoos Ariel (Malachi x Helens Bay, May ’23) from trap 4, was only lying in fifth place at this point and had a mammoth task ahead.

Brandywell, Race 4, The Magua O’Kane Memorial was won by ZOOS ARIEL in 28.01. Rioghan & Cadhla O’Kane made the presentation to winning owner Richard Grieve.

The field crowded a little at the third bend where Ariel in forth place lost some momentum but he came up the outside of his rivals on the home straight with a wet sail to grab victory for Richard Grieve by a head in 28.01 from the valiant Shrewd Stories in second with Sprintinthesky a further head back in third. A worthy winner of this inaugural running of the Magua O’Kane Memorial Trophy Race.

Scally Annie (Broadstrand Bono x Town Mouse, Jan ’22) has been knocking on the door in her recent performances and she got a well-deserved win for owner Brendan McLaughlin and trainer Shea Cassidy in Race 5. Her early pace from trap 1 quickly took her to the front and she was in control of the race thereafter. She clocked a respectable 29.41 for the 525 yard trip and had 2.5 lengths to spare over Tammy Kay in second.

Cormac McHugh’s Dreenan Willow (Ballymac Best x Barntick Emoski, Jul ’23) built up an early lead from trap 6 in Race 6, and the further she went, the further she extended her advantage. It was a solid performance from Willow who won by 6 lengths in 28.29 and notched up her second career success from 14 starts.

The fastest sprint clock of the night went to Aidhm Eileen (Ballymac Best x Got The Charm, Jul ’23) in the finale. Michael Gervin’s Eileen was fast away from trap 5 and her early pace soon took her ahead of Kylenoe Bell on her outside. From there she ran out an easy 4.25 length winner in 16.73. This completed a double on the night for littermates Dernmore Blue and Aidhm Eileen.

With the dust now settled on a stellar BOYLE Sports Lifford Oaks, it was a quieter weekend at Lifford Stadium, but there was no shortage of quality on display.

Brandywell, Race 5 was won by SCALLY ANNIE in 29.41. Pictured with Joleen Doran & Shea Cassidy.

On Saturday night, Michael Corr stole the spotlight with a superb double, as both State Legend and Meenagh Manila produced commanding, trap-to-line victories.

Both greyhounds had contested the Northwest Greyhound Supplies A3/A4 Final just a week earlier, and both showed their class once again with exemplary performances.

It was State Legend who got the ball rolling. Sent off the even-money favourite from trap two, the son of Ballyhimikin Jet and Charming Pet rocketed from the boxes with a slick 2.63 sectional, immediately asserting control. The powerful 76-pounder was never troubled thereafter, setting a scorching pace to score by five and three-quarter lengths in a smart 28.93.

Just one race later, the double was sealed as Meenagh Manila built on her fine runner-up finish in last weekend’s €2,000-to-the-winner stake final. Another even-money favourite, the daughter of the sensational Meenagh Miracle pinged from trap three and never looked back.

Chased by Diegos Manna, she powered clear to land her eighth career victory, stopping the clock in 28.95, just two spots slower than her kennelmate.

Brandywell; Ella Coney was presented with the Veteran Winner’s Trophy after last week’s success for 4 year old Shrewd Stories.

Earlier on the card, Monodie Mike claimed the title of fastest performer of the night. A recent 29.14 winner, Ray Millar’s charge went off a generous 5/2 chance and turned in a polished display. After tracking Fridays April early, the son of Ballymac Best took control at the halfway mark and held off the late surge of Cosmonaut to win in a rapid 28.83.

Over the sprint trip, there was a blistering effort from the Fiona Devlin-owned Enchanting Reel (2/1). The lightly raced daughter of Ballymac Cashout had caught the eye in defeat last time after missing the break, but this time she made no mistake. Bursting from trap one, she shrugged off Gortin Chip’s early challenge and powered clear around the bends to record an impressive two-and-a-half length victory in a brisk 17.53.