Mighty Siskin gives Lyons and Keane first domestic Group One

Siskin maintained his unbeaten record after a battle with Monarch Of Egypt, on soft ground, in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes over six furlongs in the Curragh.

Prince Khalid Abdullah's colt was settled in fourth of the five runners before switching to the inner and taking closer order coming to the final quarter of a mile.

He reeadily assumed the lead from front-running Royal Lytham once he passed the two marker, but was strongly pressed by Monarch Of Egypt as the pair charged towards the final furlong.

The 10/11 favourite was ridden and began to get the upper hand in the final 100 yards as he kept on best to prevail by three parts of a length from his main market rival Monarch Of Egypt (6/4).

This made it four from four for Siskin including a Listed contest and a Group 2 before today.

He gave trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane their first domestic Group One success.

Ger Lyons said: “My confidence was shot all week with the rain purely because we knew he was better on a faster gallop. His forte is that burst of speed that he still showed there. I think he’s a very smart horse.

“Talk of Guineas at this stage is very premature as we are racing over six furlongs in August. Today was to tell us do we step up to seven for the Dewhurst or the National Stakes or do we go Middle Park route. Did we learn anything trip wise? I don’t know.

“I just learned that this is one good, tough horse. We’ll get together and make a plan with him.

“I’m delighted to be training for Prince Khalid, and as I’ve said we can’t train Group 1 horses unless we get Group 1 horses. Thankfully in my second season training for this operation I’m after getting a Group 1 horse.

“What a horse to have — he’s so push button. I was worrying all week listening to every drop of rain falling but the horse just got on and did his job.”

Racing manager Lord Grimthorpe said: “I’m delighted and he’s a homebred which makes it even more important.

“He’s a horse with a great mind and he took all the preliminaries very well. The way he travelled in the race showed he’s got class.”

Colin Keane added: "Sure it means everything especially riding for the boss and these owners who are only in our yeard a short amount of time. It means the world.

"He's just such a lovely horse - he's just so straightforward. He was good and gutsy today.

"That's his biggest asset I think - his temperament. So, hopefully he can keep going in the right direction.

For the 2,000 Guineas, Paddy Power cut Siskin from 14/1 to 10/1 and Monarch Of Egypt from 25/1 to 14/1.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee