BAREFOOT HAS SUNG FOR THE FINAL TIME ON THE TRACK

Ian Fortune

Just days after running a remarkable race to finish runner-up in the 2025 BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby, it has been confirmed that Barefoot On Song has run her final race.

Paul Hennessy confirmed the news yesterday afternoon stating, “It was a huge thrill on Saturday, she ran great but we’ve decided to call it a day.”

Of course, the brilliant daughter of Grangeview Ten and Jaytee Osprey has a litter of pups on the ground. The litter by Ballymac Cashout will be a year old in a fortnight and Hennessy says they are fine looking saplings.

BRIGHT START TO HER CAREER

During her racing career Barefoot On Song constantly proved that she was a class act, regularly taking on the boys and certainly holding her own.

It all started in the valuable Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525 early last year.

Reaching the final, she gave notice that she was going to be a top-class performer. After a seasonal rest, he was successful in the John Fitzgerald Memorial Mini Open Bitch Stake at Waterford before again coming in season.

It was the two quick seasonal breaks that led to her connections making the decision to breed her. She would return to the track at the start of this year and after a few pipe-openers would find form during the Clonbrien Treaty Limerick Oaks.

It was clear through the competition that the decision to bring her back was the right one. She absolutely flew through the prelims, clearly enjoying her time back on the track before claiming the final with a stunning 28.17 return.

TIME TO TAKE ON THE BOYS

And then it was the time to take on the boys. She would finish third in both the Bresbet Easter Cup and Droopys Stud Select Stakes.

After another layoff, she would return to finish a good second in the Dave Collins Memorial Munster Oaks. That would be her final start outside Dublin as next it was on to the BOYLE Sports Irish Greyhound Derby.

She qualified through the prelims with little drama before reaching Saturday’s decider where she would start the 40-1 rank outsider of the field. Few gave her a realistic chance but she would repay the support and faith shown by those closest to her.

Flashing from traps, she would lead the field into the turn. Cheap Sandwiches would move on at the second bend before going on to Derby glory but Barefoot On Song would push him all the way. It was quite a way to sign off.

A REAL STAR FOR HENNESSY

Hennessy was full of admiration for his star, “I’m a divil for picking up strong running dogs that leave themselves with work to do, but it’s nice to have one that can come through the bars.

She is deadly from a box. From the start she always came through the bars. She was always in season, however, and that is why we tried breeding her. It helped regulate her. It was the first time we’ve had a proper chance to train her.

“She has a litter on the ground by Ballymac Cashout and they are the finest looking saplings. We have most of them and they will be coming in in the coming weeks but Rachel [Paul’s daughter] and Shane [Dowling] have one down with them. We did a swap deal and they are happy with her. If the pups turn out half as good as Song we’ll be more than happy. We’ll breed her again as soon as she comes in season.”

A NEW ROLE

Indeed, Barefoot On Song may have run her final race for Paul Hennessy and all at Black And Amber Racing and her lucky owners Bryan and Kathleen Murphy but they won’t have to wait long to see her pups in action.

A Derby runner-up with the pace, power and attitude to be a star on the track, we look forward to seeing how she performs as a brood. The wise money is on very well. Best of luck to Barefoot On Song in her role.