Pale Mimosa made a successful seasonal debut when landing a hard-fought success in the Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Memorial Saval Beg Stakes at Leopardstown.
The Dermot Weld-trained filly had not run since October but she knuckled down really well to outpoint Missunited in the final furlong.
The Aidan O'Brien-trained El Salvador set a strong pace and still led as they turned for home but was soon overtaken by Pale Mimosa and Missunited.
ADRIFT
Pat Smullen had to keep the 5/4 favourite up to her work to hold Missunited with El Salvador third.
Their four other runners were some way adrift.
"It was a difficult race because it was her first run for quite a while and she was going to need it a little bit, but her bit of class told," Smullen said.
"She's a progressive filly and was very good last year.
"You can see from the size of her she was always going to get better with a bit more time.
"Her work had been nice but my worry was if she had just come in time for this race, but it was a lovely place to start her off."