Bracelet, near side, races past Balansiya in Leopardstown © Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien got off the mark for the new turf campaign when Bracelet ran out a convincing winner of the 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown.
Sent off a 7-1 chance for the Group Three contest in the hands of Joseph O'Brien, the daughter of Montjeu was settled towards the rear and followed the odds-on Balansiya when that one went to the front at the top of the straight.
Balansiya made the best of her way home, but Bracelet reeled her in with half a furlong to go and was a length clear by the line, looking every inch a Classic prospect.
The runner-up's trainer Dermot Weld had already won the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes with Go For Goal (7-1), who stepped forward from a second-place finish under top weight in a Curragh handicap last weekend.
Pat Smullen soon had the grey in front and once he shook off the attentions of Buonarroti only Shining Emerald could throw down a challenge, but he was well held three-quarters of a length in arrears.
Weld also won with Fascinating Rock (9-1), who made significant progress heading for the closing stages of the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Summer Racedays 2014 Maiden and found plenty when let down by Smullen to beat Adjusted by a length.
There was a thrilling three-way battle for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden and it went to the Jim Bolger-trained Ceisteach (7-1), who stuck on gamely for Kevin Manning when looking sure to be swallowed up. She beat Kaleefa by a nose.
Bolger and Manning doubled up when Sophisticated Heir (7-1) stayed on strongly to lead deep inside the final furlong of the Follow Leopardstown On Facebook Handicap before holding top-weight Flic Flac by a length and a half.
Sean Corby was desperately looking for room down the straight on Jimmy Lambe's French import Bertimont (33-1) in the Mothers Day At Leopardstown Handicap and the gap came just in time for him to squeeze through for a cosy half-length victory.
