Siskin swoops to preserve his unbeaten record in thrilling Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh

Siskin showed himself to be a top-class miler when sprinting to a length-and-three-quarter win in the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh on Friday night.

The 2-1 favourite, carrying the colours of owner Khalid Abdullah, gave jockey Colin Keane and trainer Ger Lyons their first Classic success.

Lyons said Siskin’s next race is likely to be the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Siskin (above) picked up in brilliant style to win decisively at The Curragh on Friday night

Lyons said: ‘This means everything, it means 30 years’ hard graft for everybody – to win a Guineas was always my number one and hopefully it’s the first of many.

‘I’m delighted with the support we are getting from owners and the quality has increased year on year.

‘That was hard work and full credit to Colin Keane. You don’t get a Guineas handed to you and they both stood up when it was needed. If there was a kink in that horse then he wasn’t going to go through that gap.

‘Colin is the best there is at the minute. He’s only a kid and he’s going to keep improving.

‘I also want to thank Khalid Abdullah, who is watching in Paris I’m sure. They are the ultimate breeders.’

Siskin, unbeaten in three races as a two-year-old, dispelled stamina concerns with his powerful finish after being extricated from behind a wall of horses well inside the final two furlongs. 

Runner-up was Aidan O’Brien-trained strong-finisher Vatican City with his stablemate Lope Y Fernandez, who briefly looked like he might have made a race-winning move while the favourite was shut in, in third.