Blow for Gavin Cromwell as top juvenile ruled out of early season Classics

Gavin Cromwell will be without the flagbearer of his Flat string during the first half of this season after Irish 1,000 Guineas hope Sunset Shiraz suffered a setback.

Owner Lindsay Laroche's promising filly ended 2021 among the top ten two-year-old fillies in Ireland, notably finishing third in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Cromwell had reportedly been targeting a 1,000 Guineas trial for the well-bred daughter of Time Test, but early season Classic ambitions have now been put on ice. She held entries in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas and Juddmonte Irish Oaks.

"Unfortunately, she's met with a bit of a setback and won't run again until the second half of the season," said Cromwell.

Sunset Shiraz (third, blue silks): ran admirably in last year's Group 1 Moyglare Stud StakesCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"She'll be fine but it's too early to say where we could start her off yet. We'll wait and see."

Sunset Shiraz's classy juvenile form was boosted at Leopardstown on Saturday when Homeless Songs and Agartha, whom she had split in the Moyglare, finished first and second in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud "Priory Belle" 1,000 Guineas Trial.

The 104-rated performer also finished second to Agartha in last year's Group 2 Debutante Stakes when leading Qipco 1,000 Guineas contender Discoveries was two and a half lengths behind in third.

Cromwell, who could have Stayers' Hurdle hero Flooring Porter to look forward to in the Grade 1 JRL Group Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday (3.35), has between 15 and 20 two-year-olds among a 40-strong Flat string for the new season.

However, he will be without Queen Mary Stakes heroine Quick Suzy, who remained in America after travelling to compete in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Quick Suzy: showed electric pace to win last year's Queen Mary Stakes at Royal AscotCredit: Edward Whitaker

A temperature ruled her out of that intended Breeders' Cup target at Del Mar but she is still in California being trained at Santa Anita by Paddy Gallagher, a native of Strabane in Northern Ireland.

Gallagher told the Racing Post: "Quick Suzy didn't get to take her chance at the Breeders' Cup last year and she was given a nice, long break afterwards.

"We brought her back in last month and we're looking forward to getting her going. There is no real plan yet for her but she's been good so far. She's not a big filly but has some nice form."

Grade 1-winning trainer Gallagher cares for a string of about 35 horses at his Santa Anita base and has career earnings of over $36 million since 1997. He previously spent seven years as assistant trainer to the legendary Bill Shoemaker.

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