Syzygy springs 80-1 surprise at Gowran Park

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Sat 19 Sep 2026

There was a huge shock in Gowran Park’s feature race when Syzygy prevailed at 80-1 in a blanket finish to the Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies & Mares Stakes.

To compound the puzzling matters for punters, Daniel McLoughlin’s filly fended off the 50-1 chance Pollenca by a short head in the Group Three highlight.

The Ger Lyons-trained favourite Faiyum faded into eighth having been prominent, while Joseph O’Brien’s previously unbeaten Star Performer briefly threatened on the outside before coming home in fifth.

Syzygy and Scott McCullagh had earned black type earlier in the season when second at 50-1 in a Listed race at Navan and he was on board once again.

“She was good and she’s a filly that obviously picked up black type already,” said McLoughlin.

“She was entered in France today over a mile and a quarter in a fillies’ only. France was the plan all the time, but earlier in the week I rang the owners as you put horses in France thinking you’ll get soft ground, especially this time of year.

£But they’ve had a similar year to us. We just got the rain a touch earlier and the weather was still hot and the ground still quick over there.

“I said to the owners that we’d rather take a chance that our own country will pay us back with a bit of rain and luckily it did. It’s brilliant.

“That’s the third Group Three and a Listed this year. Having one stakes winner was top of the bucket list this year, so to have four is madness.

“This is why we do it. Scott is my best friend and when he’s on them, it’s all the better. He’s someone I rate very highly as a rider, but he just doesn’t get the chances. It’s brilliant to have him on board.”

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