Unbeaten Arch Swing Wins Guineas Trial in Ireland

Arch Swing, a 3-year-old daughter of Arch, kept her unbeaten record intact while defeating her John Oxx-trained stablemate Four Sins by a short head in the Dimitrova One Thousand Guineas Trial Stakes (Ire-III) at Leopardstown Saturday.

Ridden by Mick Kinane in her seasonal debut, the bay filly has now won three successive starts for owner Pat Garvey, including a group III victory as a 2-year-old the Curragh. T.L. Folkerth bred Arch Swing, who is out of Gold Pattern, by Slew o' Gold.

The even-money priced favorite Arch Swing labored a bit during the seven-furlong event on good going but got through along the inside to pass Four Sins approaching the final furlong marker. Arch Swing was unable to pull away, however, and the two battled to the finish. Oxx said he was looking for a stronger effort from Arch Swing but would go on to Newmarket for the One Thousand Guineas (Eng-I).

"It would have been nice to see her win more easily," Oxx told The Racing Post. "I thought she was pretty fit but she got a bit tired towards the finish. She is a big, masculine filly who takes plenty of work and she did come on a lot from her first run last season. Hopefully, she will do the same this year."

Four Sins finished three quarters of a length ahead of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Theann. Liscanna was a head back in fourth.