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O'Brien 'rolls the dice' with Atsila

Atsila Atsila
© Healy Racing Photos

Donnacha O'Brien's Atsila is set for another crack at Group 1 glory with a trip to France on the agenda.

She made a winning start to her career in shedding her maiden tag in Bellewstown before successfully stepping up to Group 3 company in the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh.

Subsequent Group 1 assignments saw her unplaced in the Irish 1,000 Guineas at the Curragh and in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, but O'Brien is now eyeing top-level success in France.

He said: “She’s going to go to the Prix Rothschild (at Deauville) on Sunday week.

“She’s a Group 3 winner and there are pretty much no Group 2s that suit, so we said we’d roll the dice and have another go at a Group 1 with her.

“She came out of Newmarket very well. She’s in good form and has been working well.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.