by Tony O´Hehir
ARCH SWING retained her unbeaten record, but only just, when getting the better of stablemate Four Sins by a short head in the Group 3 Dimitrova 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on Saturday.
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Arch Swing, who was achieving her second Group 3 success, having landed the C L Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh last year, passed Four Sins, under Fran Berry, early in the final furlong but the outcome was in the balance all the way to the line.
The Aidan O´Brien-trained Theann, who in stall 11 had the worst draw, was last into the straight, before flashing home on the outside under Seamus Heffernan, finishing three-quarters of a length behind Four Sins in third.
The performance of Oaks entry Four Sins also pleased Oxx, who said: "She is a smart filly and although the trip was short of what she needs, she had been working well. She could get a mile and a half but we will step her up to a mile and a quarter next time, possibly in the Cheshire Oaks."
Four Sins was cut by several firms for the Epsom Classic, with Coral quoting 16-1, while Theann was cut to 25-1 (from 40) by the same firm for the 1,000 Guineas. Bet365 quote 20-1 (from 33) and William Hill 33 (from 40) about the O´Brien-trained filly.