Duckadilly
Duckadilly had a good set up in the Listed Kooyonga Stakes at Navan on Sunday, she was held up by Ben Coen well off a strong pace, but she was still impressive in winning, and this could be a springboard to even bigger things. Still eighth of the nine runners as they straightened up for home, she was angled towards the outside by her rider as they passed the three-furlong marker, and she picked up well on the run to the two, hitting the front a furlong out and keeping on well to win nicely. She only got home by a half a length in the end, but she left the impression that she had more in hand than the bare winning margin. She only did as much as she needed to do, she left the impression that she would have had more left to give if more had been required.
This was a big result for her young trainer Danny McLoughlin, his first black-type win with the filly who provided him with the first win of his training career, back in May 2024, and he had the 1-2 in the race too, with Syzygy keeping on to take second place. Duckadilly showed a nice turn of foot, she was fastest of all by a fair way through the third last and second last furlongs. She was impressive in winning a seven-furlong conditions race at Fairyhouse last June on her first run last season, and she didn't run badly in the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes at Leopardstown next time. That race could be a good target for her again now this season. She looks like an improved filly again this term, and she seemed to enjoy being ridden like this on Sunday, held up ideally off a strong pace. She is effective over seven furlongs, but she stays a mile well, and good ground or ground just on the easy side of good seems to be ideal.
Navan, 7th June 2026
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