Derry Greyhounds: Maggies Aim strikes gold in Red Shilling Final

PICTURED ABOVE: Race 4: The Red Shilling Memorial Marathon 745 yards was won by MAGGIES AIM in 42.74. From left; Gerard Corr, Brendan Cullen who made the trophy presentation to winning owner Martin Corr. Between them is Gavin Corr, and on the extreme right is James Finnerty.

There was a buzz about the Brandywell on Monday in anticipation of the 5th annual running of the Red Shilling Memorial Marathon Final.

Marcus Tong & Madeleine Ellis kindly sponsored this event in memory of their beloved Red Shilling who had a successful racing career in Australia, winning 24 of her 52 starts. She was known as ‘an outstanding stayer’ and was awarded the title of Western Australian Distance Champion in 2009.

Red Shilling, whose pet name was Penny, retired in 2010 and she lived out a long retirement with Marcus and Madeleine. The Benny Barrett Memorial Sprint heats also got underway as part of Monday’s competitive 8 race programme.

The first race was over the sprint distance and it was the Kevin O’Shea and Aoife Watters owned Debraybomber (Slippy Cian x Droopys Noble, Sep ’22) that showed good trackcraft to navigate a path through the field at the first bend, to emerge from the second bend in the lead, after only a moderate break from the 3 box. It was a determined effort from this Stephen Radcliffe trained pup on only its third career start. The time was 17.01.

A slick start from trap 5 ensured James Hasson’s Barberjet Shelia (Superior Panama x Slaneyside Kerri, Sep ’21) was in pole position to book her place in the next round of the Benny Barret Memorial Sprint.

Wet Spring challenged for the lead as the pair emerged from the second bend, but Shelia wasn’t to be denied and she got the better of her rival by 1.5 lengths in a decent 16.80 which was the faster of the two heats of this competition on the night. Generous Cashout was a further 0.5 length behind in third place.

So close

Owner Cathy Hynes and trainer James Hynes narrowly missed a treble on Monday by just half a length, but a great double was a worthy consolation. First to score was their Divine Rule (Burgess Bucks x Only Divine, Sep ’22) in the second heat of the Benny Barrett Memorial Sprint. Racing from the 3 box, Rule was lying midfield as the field approached the first turn, but he ran a super bend on the outside of the leaders to shoot into an unassailable lead. He clocked 16.95 when winning by 6.5 lengths from Fagans Lilly with a further neck back to Call You Tonight who also qualify for the next round.

The beautiful Red Shilling, ‘Penny’ after whom the Memorial Marathon is named.

Maggies Aim (Black Parachute x Cornamaddy Arrow, Mar ’22) was favourite to win the Red Shilling Memorial Final after her semi-final performance but she gave herself a tough task after a slow break from trap 3. She was in last place until midway down the back straight on the second circuit before starting to make progress.

She was still only lying in third place as she entered the home straight for the final time but we were treated to a thrilling finish as she stayed on strongly to get the better of Tell On Charity by 1.5 lengths in 42.74 for owner Martin Corr. She was a most deserving winner of this event that was sponsored in memory of Red Shilling, one of Australia’s greatest stayers.

The Hynes double was landed in Race 5 over the 500 yards. Dasoundoffreedom (Burgess Bucks x Only Divine, Sep ’22) who is a litter mate to Divine Rule, flashed out of trap 6 to make all and despite being under pressure from Fair Well in the closing stages, had enough in the tank to win by 1.25 lengths in 28.12.

John McMonagle’s Tuttles Timmy (Good News x Tuttles Jill, Sep ’21) converted his smart 29.06 525 yards win in Clonmel on debut back in June last year to a second career win in Race 6 over the 500 yards when trapping smartly from the 4 box to lead from trap to line in 28.11. Now that this striking white and blue hound has found his form again, he could be a force to be reckoned with.

Flawless Jerry (Pat C Sabbath x Holiday Madge, Sep ’20) is approaching his veteran era and after a spell of almost 2 years without a win, he was paw perfect in Race 7 over the 500 yards when making all from trap 3 to win in 28.47 for Sarah Leahy. A deserving reward for patience and persistence in training.

The last race was over the sprint trip and Roy Ruddy’s Drumcrow Fudge (Drumcrow Darwin x Ballymac Meo, Oct ’22) made it back to back wins over course and distance to deny Divine Faith the Hynes owner/trainer team a treble on the night.

Kyle Maxwell (left) is presented with the Yellow Printer Trophy by Michael Farrell which was sponsored by Geordie Hanna after Tober Roxy was voted our favourite performer at the 20th May 2024 race meeting

Fudge was up with the early pace from trap 5 but got shuffled back slightly at the first bend. This allowed Faith to gain several lengths of an advantage but Fudge powered up the home straight to grab victory by half a length in 16.91.

Action from Lifford Greyhound Stadium

There were some terrific performances at Lifford Greyhound Stadium over the weekend and this was kick-started in style on Friday night as Brandywell Hero made an impressive winning start to his racing career.

Owned by James Campbell of Derry, the August son of Burgess Bucks and Titanic Peggy showed incredible early speed to reel in the fast-starting Halo Rosella and he emerged a brilliant one and a quarter length winner over his rival in a rapid 17.69. The highlight of Friday’s card was the final of the ‘Bet On The Tote S4/S5 325’ and this went the way of the improving Sniper Big Joe (Broadstrand Bono - Sniper Ria).

Owned by Kevin O’Kane, this strapping blue had displayed excellent ability in previous starts and the 4/1 chance breezed past his rivals before finishing at a rate of knots to record a second career victory. Two and half lengths clear of Cheer Owen in second, the time for ‘Big Joe’ was 17.81. Shortly after the kennel and litter double was completed as Sniper Roro produced a masterclass of sprinting power from trap five.

Led early by a rocket start from Astro Blaze, the 3/1 chance proved too hot to handle up the hill as he powered past his rival to win by one and a quarter lengths. The time was a blistering 17.57. Not to be outdone, James Campbell was back in the winner’s circle in race seven as Osage blitzed his rivals to double his career tally.

Race 3, The Benny Barrett Memorial Sprint Rd.1, Ht.1 was won by DIVINE RULE in 16.95. With Michael Hynes (left) & Patsy Doyle who presented him with the £50 End Of Month Bonus for May on behalf of the Brandywell Greyhound Supporters Group.

A well-backed 9/4 shot, the beautifully bred son of Ballymac Cooper and Ballymac Arminta rocketed from traps and that was all she wrote in terms of the outcome as he maintained a strong gallop to cross the line with one and three parts of a length to spare. The time was 17.59.

The final of the Fitzwilliam A6 & Lower 525 served as the feature on Sunday night’s card and this went the way of the ever-present Fridays Acclaim. Owned by Paul Whyte, this greyhound is rarely out of the frame and once turning a close second behind Coolaree Earl, the writing was very much on the wall.

Wearing down his rival around the bottom two turns, the son of Droopys Cain and Fridays Caramel produced his customary flying finish to cross the line with three and a half lengths to spare. The time was 29.42.

The FITZWILLIAM A6 & LOWER 525 Final was won by FRIDAYS ACCLAIM in 29.42. From left we have Sean Doherty, Darryl Whyte, Rachael Mc Nulty & Master Ruairi Whyte.

The performance of the night came in race six, which was the Lynas S1 325, as Quivers Nando (Airmount Nando - Quivershillcroft) maintained his rich vein of form.

Switching back to the sprint trip after success over the 575-yard distance last time out, the Benny Treanor-trained black was headed early on by Avenue Alicia, however, he flew up the home straight to comfortably win by one length in 17.59.