Siskin Faces Phoenix Test

Khalid Abdullah's unbeaten Siskin (First Defence) renews rivalry with 'TDN Rising Star' Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah) in Friday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at a Curragh venue currently threatened by the possibility of huge amounts of rain. First and second in the course-and-distance G2 Railway S. on fast ground on June 29, they are both bred to be compromised by the prospect of soft ground. Siskin, who also captured the May 24 Listed Marble Hill S. here, has two other Ballydoyle representatives to contend with including the G2 July S. winner Royal Lytham (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and the G3 Anglesey S. fifth Mount Fuji (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

“The horse has been in good form, but obviously the weather will play a part in the race,” Teddy Grimthorpe said of Siskin. “They are supposed to get monumental amounts of rain, so we'll all be going into unknown territory on that front. The horse himself has been in good form and been pleasing Ger [Lyons]. This race has always been his plan since he won the Railway and there has been no reason to divert. It may only be a small field, but it is a solid one.”

The field is made up with John Joseph Murphy's July 26 Down Royal maiden winner Think Big (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), but he is another who needs it quick. “It looks like it's going to be really soft and I think my lad wants it fast,” he said. “It might not suit any of them, you just don't know. We're gutted about the forecast.”