Derry Greyhounds: Galliagh Johnny and Dakota Star Sparkle in Brandywell’s 2026 debut

Greyhound racing finally got going in 2026 with a 7 race programme at the Brandywell on Monday evening where we enjoyed weather that was unusually mild night for the time of year. It was a night when we celebrated the Annual Awards Winners of 2025 and each of the category winners had a race named in their honour.

Racing started with sprint action and the first hound to earn his place on the podium in 2026 was the Paul Moss and Niall Brennan owned Catunda Theo (Mustang Jet x Catunda Cleo, Oct ’23). It was 11th time lucky for Theo as he recorded his first career success with a determined performance from trap 5. Fastest away from the boxes, Theo held off both the early challenge of Olwinn Jackson at the first bend, and the fast finish of Townsend Daisy, as he crossed the line with 2 lengths to spare over his rivals in 17.50.

John Joseph Porter’s Townsend Cindy (My Redeemer x Rossetti UK, Aug ’24) also recorded her first career success in Race 2 in what was only her 4th start. Drawn in trap 2, she was slowly away from boxes but paced up well to the first turn where she was on the heels of the leaders.

Cindy took advantage of some jockeying for position up front by tracking around the inside of the bends and took up the lead entering the home straight. She moved wide off the second bend and bumped Dees Lad on her outside but little 52lbs Cindy was certainly gutsy and she ran on strongly to win by 1 length in 17.68.

Race 3, The Martin Gallagher Sprint was named in recognition of Martin’s league table-topping position as ‘Private Trainer With Most Wins’ at Brandywell in 2025. He was presented with the RS Crash Solutions Trophy sponsored by Michael Stewart. The race was won by the lightly raced Roanna Justin (Lenson Bocko x Solway Rocket, Oct ’23) for Declan Ferry in a smart clock of 17.00 which was the fastest time of the night.

Race 1 was won by CATUNDA THEO in 17.50. Pictured with (from right) Paul Moss, his son Charlie (centre) and Jack (left).

This was only his second career start but he made the most of his wide trap 5 draw. Well away from boxes, he was upsides the leaders at the first turn and swept around their outside to create an unassailable lead. Tromora Heart ran on well for second place just 3 lengths behind the winner.

Race 4, The ‘Meet More Often 500’ was named in recognition of the ‘Bitch With Most Wins’ At Brandywell in 2025. Her owner, Eamonn Curran was presented with the Sean O’Driscoll Memorial Trophy which was sponsored by Sean’s daughter Bernie McCusker. Sean was one of Brandywell’s greatest stalwarts and maybe it was an omen that the race would be won by a dog named in memory of another great Brandywell stalwart, the late Johnny McLaughlin.

Galliagh Johnny (Ballymac Bolger x Greenfield Lark, Dec ’23), a strapping 84lbs lad owned by Ciaran McLaughlin, was well away from trap 3 and held the crucial inside line turning the first bend. With crowding in behind him he stretched clear on the back straight, but, he was finding the 500 yard trip a bit of a stretch on the home straight. Harrogatetownbaz was having his first look at the track and he was flying home with a wet sail. However, Johnny had done enough and claimed victory by 0.75 lengths in 28.52.

Race 5, The Charlie Baxter 500 was named in recognition of Charlie’s league table-topping position as ‘Owner With Most Wins’ at Brandywell in 2025 for the second consecutive year. He was presented with the Lissan Kennels Trophy which was sponsored by Johnny Scott. The race was won by the Darragh McGhee owned and Niall McGhee trained Gortin Dan (Pestana x Nemesis, Apr ’24). He showed good early pace from trap 2 to lead at the first turn. With crowding in behind, he stretched clear on the back straight and had just enough stamina to last out the 500 yard trip. Galliagh Monko rallied late and made up a lot of ground to finish second just 1.25 lengths behind Dan who clocked a decent time of 28.54.

Race 6, The Stephen Radcliffe 500, was named in recognition of Stephen’s second consecutive year as league table-topper in the ‘Public Trainer With Most Wins’ category at Brandywell in 2025. He was presented with the Assurance Roofing Trophy which was sponsored by John McMonagle. The race was won by Leslie Hunter’s Maggies Return (Loggies Kodi x Hour Glass Elle, Mar ’22). She was fast away from trap 2 and took a bump as she moved to the inside rail position. She turned the bend in third place but showed good stamina to take up the lead on the home straight and won by 0.75 lengths in 28.60.

Race 5, The Charlie Baxter 500 was won by GORTIN DAN in 28.54. Pictured with (from back left) Stephanie English, Charlie Baxter & Johnny Scott, (from front left) Niall McGhee & son Darragh.

The finale, Race 7, The Diegos Manna Sprint, was named in recognition of the ‘Dog With Most Wins’ at Brandywell in 2025. His owner, Leigh Thompson was presented with the Cullmac Contracts Trophy which was sponsored by Brendan Cullen.

The race was won by James Murray’s Dakota Star (Ballymac Cashout x Dingys Diva, Nov ’23). Star was slow away from trap 1 but had impressive early pace which took her to the first bend, narrowly in front. She was shuffled back slightly rounding the bends but soon opened up the lead on her rivals turning for home. She won by 2.25 lengths in 17.17. Plenty more to come from this little 48 lbs lady who is a sister to top class open sprinter Portrush Ben.

New adventures for retired greyhound, Soggys Son

Soggys Son (Drumcrow Obama x Lisnakill Eileen, Jul ’17) aka ‘Blue’ won three races over the Brandywell sprint distance back in 2019 and 2021 with a fastest clock of 17.01. His full athletic potential was never realised as his career had been curtailed by COVID-19 restrictions. He retired from racing in January 2022 and recently swapped the green hills of Donegal in favour of spending the rest of his retirement with Virginia Landress and her family in Florida.

This was made possible thanks to the collaboration between American-based, Gold Coast Greyhound Adoptions and the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust. Many of our thoroughbred Irish greyhounds have American sires in their pedigrees and Blue is a seventh generation descendent of both P’s Riptide and the iconic Sand Man who is one of the greatest-ever American sires.

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Virginia tells us: "My husband and I adopted Blue on December 13, 2025.  He is a beautiful blue boy who is smart, sweet, funny, curious, and playful. He has settled into our home as if he has always been here, exploring every inch of our house from the second he got here.

"His sister Pepper wasn’t too sure about him at first but she’s coming around too. He is mostly potty trained and is learning some basic commands such as wait, leave it, and watch, which he is learning quickly. We’re working on him not being a counter surfer, that one is taking a little longer, but he’s getting it. He’s very smart and wants to please. 

"Blue loves when you rub his shoulders and tell him how beautiful he is and that he’s a good boy. He LOVES his squeaky toys, the squeakier the better.  As much as he loves his squeaky toys, he loves breakfast and dinner even better. I would say he’s definitely a foodie. He certainly knows where the treats are kept and is sure to show you to the treat cabinet just in case you forgot where it is. In fact, he’s so smart that he has figured out how to open the cabinet."

So it appears that Blue is adapting very well to his new surroundings and like most greyhounds his bloodlines and upbringing has produced an athletic, healthy dog that is well socialised and makes a great pet.

Anyone who is considering getting a dog can find out more about adopting a retired greyhound via the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust at http://irgt.ie or via the ‘Brandywell Greyhound Racing Supporters Group’ on Facebook.