Siskin has Breeders’ Cup Mile as final target before retiring to stud in Japan
Si skin is being aimed at the Breeders' Cup Mile and will then head to Japan to stand at stud.
Trained by Ger Lyons, the First Defence colt won the Irish 2,000 Guinea sin tremendous style earlier in these ason, stretching his unbeaten run to five.
Since then he has been beaten in the Sussex Stake sat Good wood and the Prix du Moulin, losing his chance in the latter having become upset on loading into the stalls.
"He's worked this morning, he's in great order and looks fantastic," said Lyons yesterday, speaking on Nick Luck's Daily Podcast.
"This year was about the Guineas, the Sussex, come back for a light campaign, maybe the Boomerang and have a look at the QEII ground depending, but that has been put on hold.
"I didn't want to send him as a three-year-old to the Breeders' Cup, but he won't be staying in training at four so the Breeders' Cup now becomes an option and at this moment he is being trained with that in mind.
"He's going to stand in Japan. I'm gutted. In many ways I'm delighted for him as he'll get a serious quality book of mares that he maybe wouldn't get in Ireland, but I'd have loved to have trained him at four. It just goes to show where we are in the industry when powerhouses like Judd monte and Coolmore still have to sell their best horses for economic rea
sons.” Lyons is happy to put a line through his Moulin run, a second time Siskin has had problems at the start after the Middle Park last season.
He added :"“The Moul in wasn’ t part of my plan and any time I’ve changed my plan mid-season it’s never worked out. His run in France was a non-event. The stalls thing reared its ugly head again. I keep saying he's never shown issues at home, but he's let me down twice now. They put the hood on him and then it
became a non- event.” While Siskin is being trained for the Breeders' Cup meeting, he would only run if the ground is on the quick side.
"It has been lovely ground at Keeneland, but I got a video through yesterday of torrential rain. I worked in Keeneland so I'll have to touch base. I wouldn't like to see him over there on soft ground ," said Lyons.
Meanwhile, Charlie Fellowes admits he will be sorry to see Onassis go after confirming
the Royal Ascot winner is to retire to the paddocks.
The three-year-old filly signed off with a creditable run to finish sixth in the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot, for which she had been supplemented.
As well as winning the Sand ring ham Handicap at the Royal meeting earlier this season, the daughter of Dubawi picked up a pair of Listed victories at Chantilly and Goodwood.
"As far as I am aware, despite my best efforts, she is retired," said Fellowes.
"She ran an unbelievable race the other day, considering she had won on heavy ground six days earlier. To be beaten about two lengths by some of the best sprinters in the country, and had a lot of them behind her, was a remarkable effort.
"I think she ran the quickest final furlong as well and proved how good she is. I will be desperately sad to lose her.”