Siskin strengthened his status as the most exciting two-year-old in Ireland as he maintained his unbeaten run with victory in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
In wet and blustery conditions, which saw the ground ease to soft after the second race, the 10-11 favourite Siskin handled the test best to win the six-furlong Group 1 under Colin Keane – it was a first domestic Group 1 success for him and trainer Ger Lyons.
A jubilant Keane said: “It’s a big thing, especially to ride one for the boss and these owners, they’ve only been in our yard a short amount of time, it means the world. He’s such a lovely horse to be associated with.
“He’s just so straightforward, he was good and gutsy today. His biggest asset is his temperament, hopefully he can keep going in the right direction now.
“Our lad is a proper horse. It’s the first time he’s had to get into a battle and when we did get going he really put his head down. To be fair to him, he was going away again at the line.
“Monarch Of Egypt did head us and probably got first run on us, but our lad quickened up well.”
The Khalid Abdullah-owned winner competed against three trained by Aidan O’Brien and faced his sternest challenge yet, but after tracking the O’Brien trio for a few furlongs, Keane switched Siskin out and he picked up well to hold off his Railway Stakes rival Monarch Of Eygpt. Royal Lytham was a close third.
Betfair and Paddy Power were suitably impressed and trimmed Siskin into 10-1 from 14-1 for the 2,000 Guineas. Runner-up Monarch Of Egypt was cut for the same race into 14-1 from 25-1.
George Washington, who won the Phoenix in 2005, was the last horse to use the race as a stepping stone to 2,000 Guineas glory. (fonte : RacingPost)
