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Go Athletico continued his run of excellent form for new trainer Ado McGuinness with a success in six furlong Group 3 Renaissance Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.
Formally trained in France by Andreas Schutz, the five-year-old made a winning stable debut in the Listed Midsummer Sprint Stakes at Cork in June. The gelding followed up with two credible seconds at the Curragh in the five furlong Group 2 Sapphire Stakes and the six furlong Group 3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes over Irish Champions Weekend. The Renaissance Stakes victory was a second Group 3 success for Go Athletico, having won the Prix de la Rochette in France as a juvenile.
After sitting on the heels of early pacesetter Twilight Jet in the first half of the race, three time course and distance winner Big Gossey attempted to kick for home with two furlong to run but was joined by Go Athletico with Ronan Whelan aboard. The pair began to pull clear of the rest of the field at the furlong pole and duelled all the way to the line, with Go Athletico managing to find a bit more in the final strides. Aesop's Fables finished third for Aidan O'Brien whilst favourite Ocean Quest failed to figure in the centre of the track.
Go Athletico is entered for the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp next week and Ado McGuinness said: "We ran him here because it was giving it to be quite a dry week. He might travel but if it is dry, we won't run him.
"I have to speak to Barry [Irwin, racing manager for part-owners Team Valor] first. There is a big possibility that he goes as there isn't a whole pile left for him [this year].
"He deserved to get it today, he's been very consistent. He's been a great horse for me, he's only had four runs and hit the ground running. I'm very lucky and privileged to have him.
"There's been very little between him and Ken Condon's horse [Moss Tucker] all year and if he's fancied for the Abbaye next week, we won't be too far behind him. Fingers crossed, he could go there."