WILL Siskin stay a mile? That was the question going into the Irish 2000 Guineas, and the horse answered the doubters emphatically. In a thrilling race, Ger Lyons’ flying machine barged his way out of a pocket under Colin Keane and picked up in brilliant style to win decisively at The Curragh. The colt was […]
WILL Siskin stay a mile? That was the question going into the Irish 2000 Guineas, and the horse answered the doubters emphatically.
In a thrilling race, Ger Lyons’ flying machine barged his way out of a pocket under Colin Keane and picked up in brilliant style to win decisively at The Curragh.
The colt was 4-4 as a two-year-old but blotted his copybook with his pre-race antics at Newmarket in September, flipping over in the stalls before the Middle Park.
There were no such dramas in the starting gates this time, but his win was not without a few heart-in-mouth moments.
He was surrounded by team Ballydoyle for much of the race and stuck on the inside as the field quickened 3f from home.
The eye was drawn to a sweeping move out wide by Lope Y Fernandez, meanwhile Siskin and Armory knocked seven bells out of each other as they searched for racing room.
It was Siskin (2-1f) who got the better of that argument, and when the afterburners engaged he was soon in the clear, with the beautifully-bred but inexperienced Vatican City (14-1) flashing home for an excellent second.
No stopping Siskin in the Irish 2000 Guineas
Traffic like the M25 but he does enough under a ballsy rise from Colin Keane
— Sun Racing (@SunRacing) June 12, 2020
Lyons said: “I always had faith the horse was in good hands with Colin.
“We knew it would happen that we would be stuck on the inside, but the good horses are able to get themselves out of trouble.
“We knew he would love the fast ground and we were confident he would get the trip, but until they go and do it you can never be sure.
“I said to Colin that everything has gone right, we’d had a great pre-season with him, now go out and ride him like he is the best horse you’ve ridden, and he did.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to the team yet, but the plan if we won today was to go for the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.”
