Siskin

There were a few nervous moments for connections of Siskin (First Defence) as Friday's G1 Irish 2000 Guineas unwound, but class ultimately told in the first Curragh Classic of 2020 to end Ger Lyons's agonisingly long wait for his red-letter day. Unbeaten on Irish soil last term, having captured the important juvenile staging posts of the G2 Railway S. and G1 Phoenix S. here, Khalid Abdullah's homebred had lost his head in the stalls at the start of Newmarket's G1 Middle Park S. to put a question mark into the...

There's been almost no getting away from You'resothrilling (Storm Cat) when it comes to the Irish Guineas in recent years. The sister to Giant's Causeway has conducted an exclusive relationship with Galileo (Ire) since departing to stud and their first foal, Marvellous (Ire), won the Irish 1000 Guineas, swiftly followed by her year-younger brother Gleneagles (Ire), who took the Irish 2000 Guineas as the middle leg of a Group 1 treble at three. Taj Mahal (Ire) broke the mould by heading instead to the Prix du Jockey Club, in which...

Juddmonte's undefeated G1SW Siskin (First Defence) tops 15 contenders for Friday's G1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh at the latest entry stage. Ger Lyons's charge won each of his four starts last term, culminating in the G1 Phoenix S., but was withdrawn at the start on his intended finale in the G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket after proving unruly in the stalls. Aidan O'Brien has seven colts in the mix at this stage, headed by Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who won the G2 Futurity S. and G3...

Last year's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. winner Siskin (First Defence) remains on course to kick off his 3-year-old season in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas on June 12. Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to owner Khalid Abdullah, said, "Providing Prince Khalid is happy, Siskin is heading to the Irish 2000 Guineas. [Trainer] Ger [Lyons] has been very positive and again everything has been straightforward and he is going really well. He has progressed well and though he will never be a big horse he has furnished nicely and Ger is very...

Ger Lyons's Glenburnie Stables enjoyed a banner 2019, adding to the 2011 G1 Cheveley Park S. success of Lightening Pearl (Ire) (Marju {Ire}) with a first domestic Group 1 triumph courtesy of Khalid Abdullah's hitherto unbeaten G1 Phoenix S. and G2 Railway S. hero Siskin (First Defence), and the Co. Meath-based trainer is primed for the resumption of racing whenever that moment arrives. "I'm blessed with a beautiful array of horses, I've a lovely bunch of 2-year-olds and a smashing bunch of 3-year-olds, and the team is very much led...

The temporary suspension of racing in many parts of the world is causing uncertainty for trainer and racing managers alike, and one horse racing fans will be longing to see out this season is the dual Arc heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). Her owner-breeder Prince Khalid Abdullah surprised many when anouncing that Enable would stay in training as a 6-year-old, and the hopes are now that her season will not be too interrupted. The great mare's year will of course revolve around her attempt to win the Qatar Prix de...

Defying the rain-softened ground and a trio from Ballydoyle, Khalid Abdullah's Siskin (First Defence) kept his unbeaten record intact as he prevailed from TDN Rising Star Monarch of Egypt (American Pharoah) in Friday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. at The Curragh. Held up in fourth early by Colin Keane, the 10-11 favourite cruised into a challenging position on the far side heading to two out where battle was joined with Monarch of Egypt who he had beaten in the course-and-distance G2 Railway S. Looking to be losing out in that tussle...

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....

G2 Coventry S. winner Arizona (Ire) (No Nay Never) was not among the final entries for Friday's G1 Keeneland Phoenix S. when the field for the six-furlong contest at the The Curragh was drawn on Wednesday. The quintet standing their ground is headed by Juddmonte's unbeaten homebred Siskin (First Defence). The Ger Lyons trainee won the Listed Marble Hill S. at second asking over this course and distance on May 24 before adding the G2 Railway S. over the same on June 29. He is reopposed by the Railway second...