Starcash Barry Claims Victory in the Edgar Memorial Final

Members of the Edgar & Graham families who were the first to arrive at Brandywell to celebrate the memory of the late Willie & Mary Edgar. The competition was organised to coincide with Willie’s 100th Heavenly Birthday. Special thanks must go to Patrick Edgar (third from left on back row) who was the lead organiser of this whole event. The family also arranged complimentary refreshments for all who attended. 

Brandywell report from Monday night

Family and friends of the late Willie and Mary Edgar gathered at the Brandywell on Monday evening for the Willie & Mary Edgar Memorial 500 Final, coinciding with what would have been Willie’s 100th birthday.  The event, coordinated by Patrick Edgar, featured a fully sponsored race card with more than £2,500 in prize money distributed throughout the night.

The first winner of the evening was Francis McGarry’s Strike It Jill (Koblenz x Droopys Matilda, Sep ’23). Breaking evenly from trap 2, Jill’s early pace secured her lead at the first turn. She accelerated away from her competitors, sealing victory in the PD Petfood Supplies race by an impressive seven and a quarter lengths, clocking 16.78 seconds. With only three career starts, much is anticipated from this promising pup.

Colm Sweeney's Mulroy Torpedo (Ballymac Bolger x Skirk Illusion, Nov ’22) clinched his second consecutive win in Race 2, the Brandywell Supporters Club Sprint, racing from trap 5. Achieving a personal best time, Torpedo turned for home with an insurmountable lead, crossing the finish line five and a half lengths ahead of his rivals in a time of 17.02.

Race 3, the Springtown Discount Tyres 745 sponsored by Gary Harkin was a real thriller to watch. Patrick Devlin’s Lye In Wait (Grangeview Ten x Kilbride Ruby, Oct ’23) from trap 2 set the early pace, holding a four-length lead. Kyle McCarron’s Italian Lady (Burgess Bucks x Cannobio, Jun ’22) from trap 1 steadily closed the gap, resulting in a dead heat as both dogs crossed the line in 42.97 seconds.

The Willie & Mary Edgar Memorial 500 Final was fiercely competitive. Do It Jella in trap 6 led initially, with Starcash Barry (Droopys Noah x Lightfoot Marie, Aug ’21) from his favored trap 2 position leading the early pace battle on the inside. Rein Back in trap 5 vied with Jella for the lead throughout but Jella moved wide entering the home straight and carried Rein Back wide too. 

Bows Hill Jet from trap 1 seized the opportunity, moving ahead mid-straight, just in front of Rein Back, with Jella third and Barry fourth. But Barry dug deep & bridged the gap in the final strides, clinching victory by a photo finish in 28.43 seconds for Dean Toland. Celebrating his 18th career win, Barry was met with huge cheers from the crowd. A popular winner given this dog’s determined resilience on the track.

The Daniel White Bookmaker 500 featured a head-to-head between Causeway Faye and A Sweet Damsel in trap 5. Although Faye bolted from trap 6, Kyle McCarron’s night ended triumphantly as A Sweet Damsel’s (King Sheeran x Misty Handwell, Jun ’22) stamina prevailed, sealing victory by three and a half lengths in a rapid 27.83 seconds. This was his second winner of the night.

Trainer Roy Ruddy also secured a double win. In Race 6, the Graham Brothers Builders Sprint, newcomer Drumcrow Arlow (Coolavanny Hoffa x Drumcrow Honey, Apr ’23) debuted with a win from trap 6, avoiding first bend crowing to land the spoils by three and three-quarter lengths in 16.80 seconds.
The evening's fastest sprint, featuring the Roy Ruddy-trained Over Cast (Rileys Hill x Over Easy, May ’23), owned by Pearse Gaskin, occurred in Race 8’s Edgar Family Happy Campers Sprint. After an impressive debut of 16.58 seconds the previous week, Over Cast made it two from two when winning by two and three-quarter lengths in 16.57 seconds, hinting at a very promising future.

THE WILLIE & MARY EDGAR MEMORIAL 500 FINAL was won by STARCASH BARRY 28.43. The Edgar's and the Toland’s family & friends were in attendance for the presentation of the Galway Crystal engraved Plate. On the left Theresa Edgar who is the grand daughter of Willie & Mary presented the Plate to Emeyln Toland.  Willie Edgar Jnr on right with the umbrella & Patrick Edgar is to his right. Darren Toland is holding the favourite performers trophy that Barry won last week which was sponsored & presented by Johnny Scott. Brigid Toland is holding Barry. Her daughter Amanda is beside her & son Dean is behind Amanda.

THE DANIEL WHITE BOOKMAKERS 500 was won by A SWEET DAMSEL in 27.83. Pictured with Kyle Mc Carron & Rebecca Gilliland with Paul McDaid on right.