English/Ire
Atsila remains unbeaten following Curragh victory
Donnacha O'Brien got the better of his father Aidan and his brother Joseph when Atsila came home the winner of the one mile Group Three Coolmore Stud Auguste Rodin Irish EBF Athasi Stakes at The Curragh, scoring by half a length after running on strongly to get up late on. This was only her second start after winning a Bellewstown maiden in early April and showed that the daughter of Phoenix Of Spain is clearly going the right way.
She didn't start as smartly as some but could be seen travelling well within herself for the majority of the race, as Barnavara and Bint Queen Kindly took them along early at the head of affairs.
Barnavara was soon sent clear under Nathan Crosse, looking to draw the finishing speed out of her rivals, and she held on until close home, as Gavin Ryan waited patiently on the rails for a gap to open so he could allow his filly to find her stride. She got out in enough time to pounce late on for a half-length victory, though her supporters would have been concerned all the way up the straight.
Cercene got back up to finish second for Joseph Murphy leaving Barnavara a neck further back in third, while fifth placed Mojave River had a terrible run when blocked in on the rail, and she is one to take out of the race for future assignments.
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