Derry Greyhounds: Tyler’s Danubius Powers To Gold In Brandywell Sprint Final

The Brandywell Sprint Final and the Grainne Cuerden Memorial 500 were the feature events on Monday’s 7 race programme. The Track Lotto Team also sponsored 2 races on the supporting programme.

First to earn a place on the winners’ podium was Colm Sweeney’s home bred Mulroy Princess (Ballymac Cashout x Skirk Illusion, Oct ’23). Colm’s kennel is in fine form after landing a double last week. Princess was having her second career start and put her rivals under pressure right from the lids lifted when she flew out from trap 5.

She was joined on her inside at the first bend by Ballymac Twig and Drumdoit Maisie but took advantage of the clear path on their outside to open up a couple of lengths lead. From there she kept on well up the straight to win by 1 length in 17.22.

The fastest time of the night was recorded in Race 2 when James Hasson’s Caislean Champ (Broadstrand Bono x Champhers Belle, Jul ’23) notched up his first career success on his 16th attempt.

He has had a few months off over the winter and come back in top form. Slowly away from trap 1, Champ’s early pace took him to the first turn in a share of second place where he got shuffled back slightly. However, he wasn’t to be denied and he held his inside pitch coming off the second bend, running on strongly up the home straight to win by 2.25 lengths in 16.82.

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Tyler Patterson got his first ever winner at the Brandywell on Monday night and he picked the Brandywell Sprint Final with a £300 first prize for the occasion. Only moderately away from trap 2, Danubius was hot on the heels of Yahoo Puff at the first turn. He ran strong bends and, with Puff moving wide, Danubius entered the home straight with a healthy advantage which he maintained to the line.

He clocked a time of 16.99 which is the first time he dipped under the 17 second barrier. Aiden Cullen’s two runners, Still Mulligan and Yahoo Puff finished a creditable second and third.

It was an honour for Brandywell to be chosen to host Race 4, The Grainne Cuerden Memorial 500 which was sponsored by Grainne’s husband Alan to celebrate her memory on their wedding anniversary.

There was a beautiful pink and gold presentation jacket for the winner of this event and it went to the Becca Porter owned and Alan Byrne trained Ballymac Jetaway (Ballymac Best x Ballymac Merkle, Oct ’24). Slowly away from trap 1, Jetaway turned the first bend in near the rear of the field but took advantage of some crowding on her outside to slip through on the inside rail to take up the lead entering the back straight.

She got clipped slightly from behind which lost her some ground but was determined enough to quickly regain the lead. The veteran Shrewd Stories looked a real threat on her outside at the third bend but Jetaway kept on gamely and her stamina took her to a 4.75 length victory in 28.35. This was her second win from just 7 starts and her competitive attitude will make her a serious rival to all those she takes on in future.

Brandywell Race 5, Track Lotto 500 was won by MEENAGH MANILA in 27.94. Pictured with (from left) Chloe Taggart her daughter Orla, Anthony Taggart & Teddy Duffy.

Race 5, The Track Lotto 500 was the fastest 4 bend race of the night. The early pace was set by Thomas Mullan’s Promises To Keep from trap 1, but the Anthony and Chloe Taggart owned Meenagh Manila (Broadstrand Bono x Meenagh Miracle, Jun ’23), racing from trap 3, turned the first bend in second place and was close enough if good enough.

Indeed, Manila kept up a relentless gallop and was too strong at the finish for Promises, going on to win by 2.5 lengths in 27.94. She has now won 9 races from 40 starts which is an excellent strike rate.

Ace Princess (Signet Ace x Young Princess, Apr ’24) was back on the podium again in Race 6. Richard Graham has got Princess into a rich vein of form lately. She made it three wins from her last 4 starts over the 500 yard trip when winning Race 6. Well away from trap 3 she was boxed between the leaders at the first bend.

She is such a determined lady and it was no surprise to see her shake off her two rivals and emerge into the back straight in front. This shrewd ex-Kilkenny purchase kicked on ahead and held off serious challenges by both Maggies Return and Train Blossom as the line approached. Princess won by 2 lengths in 28.21.

The finale was the Track Lotto Sprint and trainer PJ Tynan’s 9 hour round trip from County Tipperary was rewarded when Stacks Field (Koblenz x Knockout Pearl, Aug ’24) recorded a second consecutive win from only 3 starts.

Brandywell Race 7, The Track Lotto Sprint was won by STACKS FIELD in 17.28. Pictured with (from left) Shaun Eastwood, Damian McConville, PJ Tynan and James Byrne.

This is a very promising pup that is owned by the Hit The Road Syndicate and he is a real eye catcher being a striking white and fawn coloured hound.

He trapped fast from the 6 box and had the early paced Freyas Robyn on his inside at the first turn. Robyn held the upper hand until they passed the 500 yard boxes on the home straight when Field’s stamina was too strong for her and he ran on to win by 0.75 lengths in 17.28.

Owned and trained by Paul Whyte, Stellas Secret (Vulturi x Tyrur Lucille, Feb ’21) has marked her 5th birthday and passed her 100th race milestone with fantastic back to back wins over their 525 yard trip.

Her winning time in Race 8 on Sunday of 29.22 puts her back up to A3 grade which is equal to the highest grade she has reached in her illustrious career so far. Paul bred, reared and schooled Stella and she went to England to start her racing career. She wasn’t fulfilling her potential there so Paul brought her back home again and the rest is history.

She has 19 wins from 102 starts and she was the ‘Bitch with Most Wins at Lifford’ in 2025. Her number one fan is Paul’s grandson Ruiari who helps to look after her by delivering regular cuddles. Stella gets so excited on Sundays when she gets to go racing at Lifford with Ruiari and his family and friends.