3.15 7f. 3-y-o 9 Ran
Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Group 3) of €70,000.00 3-y-o 1st - €45,570.00, 2nd - €14,000.00, 3rd - €7,000.00, 4th - €2,800.00

Carribean Sunset failed to justify odds on favouritism at Cork on her seasonal debut last month but caused an upset in this Guineas trial to hold off Halfway To Heaven by a head in a race which favourite Psalm could never get into contention as her saddled slipped.

Carribean Sunset jumped out to lead early before being settled in behind the leaders and making her move early in the straight. Soon after the turn for home Smullen went after the leading pair of Valentine Hill and Halfway To Heaven and to the credit of his mount, a Danehill Dancer filly, she battled gamely to go past the Aidan O'Brien second string.

Afterwards Dermot Weld revealed that the Irish 1000 Guineas will be the winners next likely target and that the plan was to make the running but that Smullen felt they were going a stride too quick, hence the change of tactics.

Halfway To Heaven was a Leopardstown maiden winner at the backend last year and she should certainly come on for the run. It was a good performance by the Pivotal filly after setting a strong pace early on and she has been made a 25/1 shot for the 1000 Guineas at Epsom by some firms.

Dual Group 1 winning Saoirse Abu had to settle for third spot in a race in which she just failed to quicken away in pursuit of the leaders and the run is likely to bring on a lot ahead of her next run while Yali ran a good race to claim fourth spot. Off a mark of 86 here, should the handicapper not be too hard on her, she may be well able to land a lucrative event in handicap company.

Yielding, yielding to soft in places was the official going description and Adrian Maguire's Valentine Hill may just want even more of a cut to be more effective.