Unbeaten filly Atsila (by Phoenix of Spain) dazzles in the G3 Athasi Stakes

Unbeaten filly Atsila (by Phoenix of Spain) dazzled in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes at The Curragh yesterday on just her 2nd start! Trainer Donnacha O’Brien eyes the Irish 1,000 Guineas next. A rising star with classic ambitions.

Bred by Paul and Elizabeth Duffy and purchased by the trainer for €50,000 at Book 1 of the Goffs Orby Sale, she is a half-sister to three other winners, including the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes winner Layfayette (French Navy). They are out of the dual winner Scala Romana (Holy Roman Emperor), a full-sister to the 12-time winner Carolingian.

Trainer Donnacha O’Brien admitted to underestimating the winner afterwards. “I spoke to Barry last week about putting her in the Coronation Stakes. I talked him out of it and obviously shouldn’t have,” he said. “If she comes out of it very well, Barry mentioned that we could supplement for the Irish Guineas or something like that. All you can do from now is go up in class and see where her level is. She’s two-from-two and she’s earned a shot at a good race.”

“She’s lazy at home, so you don’t really know you have her,” O’Brien added. “We gave her a run in Bellewstown and she bolted up from a position she shouldn’t have. We said we’d throw her in the deep end here and she’s coped with that as well, so she’s obviously a very solid filly. They went hard, there were no hiding places, she travelled well. She got a little bit tight for room as well, if she had a clear run she might have won a bit further.”


Phoenix of Spain stands at €10,000 and is available to view by appointment. 
Call the office today to arrange.

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