Dermot Weld’s Carribean Sunset struck earned a possible tilt at the
Boylesports Irish 1,000 Guineas when losing her maiden tag with a head
win under Smullen in the Group 3 Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial.

The 12-1 shot got the better of the Aidan O’Brien-trained Halfway To Heaven,
whose stablemate Psalm, the 5-4 favourite, finished only seventh after
Johnny Murtagh’s saddle slipped soon after the start.

Saoirse Abu, a dual Group 1 winner last year when she landed the
Phoenix Stakes and Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh, finished two
and a half lengths behind Halfway To Heaven in third.

Saoirse Abu’s rider jockey Kevin Manning reported of the Jim
Bolger-trained filly: “She was very fresh and got very buzzy down at
the start. I’ll be surprised if you don’t see a very different filly
when she runs next.”

Carribean Sunset had finished in the frame on four of her five starts
last year and, after her win in yesterday’s7f event, Weld said of the
daughter of Danehill Dancer: “She ran a big race in the Goffs Fillies’
Million last year, finishing third having been drawn on the wrong side
of the track.

“The very deep ground at Cork was against her last month, but she came
on for the run and Pat gave her an excellent ride today.

“The plan was to make all, but Pat took her back when he found they
were going a stride too quick. She’s a good filly and the Irish
Guineas will probably be her next race.”

Weld’s 2003 winner of the 1,000 Guineas trial, Dimitrova, went on to
finish third in the Classic before achieving Grade 1 success in the
US, where her two wins included the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes at
Belmont Park.

Caribbean Sunset carried the silks of Dr Ronan Lambe, who owns the
filly in partnership with Dr Michael Smurfit, Sean Mulryan and Donald
Keough.

Halfway To Heaven, who hit the front early in the straight, was headed
by Caribbean Sunset entering the final furlong and fought back well to
force a photo finish.