BIG NIGHT AT GALWAY AS ‘ON FAYA’ OAKS GETS UNDERWAY
Peter Farrell
Galway Greyhound Stadium plays host to an action-packed nine-race card tonight, with the opening round heats of the 2026 On Faya Galway Oaks complemented by the Jimmy Flaherty Memorial A2/A3 525 curtain raiser.
Kindly sponsored for a second successive year by Peter Mulrooney of the ‘On Faya’ kennels, the Galway Oaks has proved hugely popular since its return to the Irish Greyhound Racing calendar and the 2026 renewal is a thing of beauty, with some of the best ladies in training set to descend on the Connacht venue in pursuit of the €10,000 first prize. Among the standout entries, Magical Mag immediately catches the eye, while the likes of Clan Sapphire, Deerjet Matilda, Singalong Cherry, Avenue Queen, Magical Fiona and Ballyhoe Natalee are also expected to have a major say in proceedings. It is certainly a case of quality over quantity, with three opening round heats on offer and the first four home in each progressing to what promise to be two red-hot semi-finals next weekend.
The place to start is the third and final opening-round heat, which sees 2025 Kilcolgan Castle Connacht Derby winner Magical Mag return to Galway. Pat Guilfoyle holds a strong hand in this year's renewal but 'Mag' looks sure to be his trump card. An Irish Derby finalist and Lifford Oaks winner, the daughter of Ballymac Cashout possesses exceptional pace from start to finish and has landed the perfect draw in trap one. While lightly raced this year, her recent 18.68 trial suggests she is cherry ripe for this assignment and she is expected to make all around a circuit she clearly relishes. Of her rivals, Singalong Cherry rates the obvious danger for Gilbert Anderson and Pat Buckley. Runner-up in the Champion Bitch Stake at Thurles and a finalist in the Puppy Oaks at Shelbourne, she possesses plenty of ability but has a potentially tricky draw in trap four, meaning she can ill-afford any mistakes. Also in the line-up are Callaway Fia, who arrives on the back of a rapid 28.97 .20s trial around Galway, while Tiny Butler has been in excellent form in slightly easier company around Mullingar.
Clan Sapphire missed out on Classic glory by the narrowest of margins when touched off by a head in the Sporting Press Irish Oaks and she will be regarded as one of the leading contenders for outright honours when she lines out in the second heat. Trained by Francis Murray for Howard Wallace, she looks tailor-made for the Galway circuit, boasting the type of early speed that is often invaluable around the tight Connacht venue. Drawn in trap two, she looks ideally housed to secure the rails before attempting to fend off the late challenge of Deerjet Matilda. The latter rates the chief threat, particularly if reproducing the level of form she showed behind both Bouncing Monarch and Bockos Diamond a number of weeks ago. Magical Hope also commands plenty of respect after landing a recent A1/A2 stake over course and distance in commanding fashion. She posted some exceptional times throughout that competition and is more than capable of mixing it with the very best.
In the curtain raiser, Pat Guilfoyle can make the perfect start with Magical Fiona. The September puppy remains a work in progress but has already shown considerable promise, most notably when posting a 29.58 over the 550-yard trip at Shelbourne. On that occasion she accounted for some smart opposition and looks every inch a potential Classic contender in the making. Drawn in trap two, she will have to contend with the perfectly housed Avenue Queen on the run-up but, should she overcome that obstacle, she can claim a fourth victory from just nine career starts. The aforementioned Avenue Queen is already a stake winner around Galway after landing the Merlin Bar A2/A3 earlier this year, while Ballyhoe Natalee arrives seeking a hat-trick after successive Dundalk victories in 28.52 and 28.41. Magical Be Nifty, Berry On Faya and Glengar Blitz are hardly without hope either and all three have solid claims in what appears the strongest heat of the night.
JIMMY FLAHERTY MEMORIAL A PERFECT SUPPORTING ACT
Aside from the Oaks action, six opening-round heats of the Jimmy Flaherty Memorial A2/A3 525 are down for decision, with the €4,000-to-the-winner competition once again kindly sponsored by the Flaherty Family.
It is another event that has consistently attracted strong competition and this year's renewal looks no different. A healthy blend of seasoned campaigners and promising youngsters ensures racegoers should be treated to some exceptional action over the coming weeks.
HEAT WATCH
Heat 1 – The vote goes to Beaming George for Corona Ryan and Christopher Connolly. The July son of Shima Shine has just two starts under his belt but has shown plenty of promise, winning in 29.06 before producing an eye-catching finish from off the pace to claim second last time out. There looks to be plenty more improvement to come. Recent TIME Club Graders Derby third Eimears Lady commands respect from trap one, while Galway stalwart Hanover Luna can never be discounted.
Heat 2 – Glengar Sofia has been competing against stronger opposition in recent weeks and this represents a drop in class for the Gerry Holian-trained runner. Drawn well in trap three, she looks capable of returning to winning ways. Mossie Mayhem could prove the fly in the ointment, however. The son of Ballyhimikin Jet is unbeaten in two starts around Tralee and, while this is much tougher, his recent 17.62 sprint suggests he possesses a serious engine. Rosshill Diamond also warrants consideration after a rapid 19.18 around Galway.
Heat 3 – Grangeview Ike can make it back-to-back victories for Michael Hogan. The strapping son of Grangeview Ten was a recent winner in 29.19 .20s and is brilliantly housed in trap one to give another bold showing. Moneypoint Band, fresh from an impressive wide-margin success around Dundalk for Francis Murray, looks the principal danger.
Heat 4 – Glamorous Jet gets the nod after filling the minor placings behind Magical Hope in recent outings. This represents a drop in class and, from a favourable draw in trap two, he looks the one they all have to beat. Hanover Gorm, winner of a recent A3/A4 stake around Galway, is well housed in trap one, while Five Alley Chief has the early pace to make his presence felt from trap three.
Heat 5 – Former AAO performer Breaghmore Dice may be advancing in years but his recent 19.18 .10s trial suggests there is still plenty left in the tank. If securing an early advantage from trap two, the son of Ballymac Cashout could well notch a ninth career success. Heathlawn Ruby is consistency personified for Martin and Rose Kelly, while Jasmine Coco would not be without hope if returning to her best.
Heat 6 – Magical Grayson gets the vote as he bids to end a winless spell stretching back to the end of May. The son of Magical Bale has hinted at considerable ability in recent weeks and this competition could provide the ideal platform to get back on track. Ticking Boxes was an impressive Thurles winner last time out and, while this represents a sterner assignment, he commands respect. Portumna Syd, meanwhile, has bundles of early speed and could prove difficult to reel in if securing the early lead.