FRANKIE ON CALL
Lyons has Dettori as option to ride Siskin
FRANKIE DETTORI is top of Ger Lyons’ list to partner Siskin in Glorious Goodwood’s Sussex Stakes – if Colin Keane stays in Ireland.
Under the Irish government’s current coronavirus protocols, jockeys leaving to ride abroad will have to self-isolate for two weeks before being allowed to return to action.
The rules create a dilemma for Keane, who has ridden the unbeaten son of First Defence in each of his five starts – including when the pair lifted the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh last month.
“It’s down to Colin – it’s a lovely, high-class problem to have, but I’d rather we didn’t have it,” said Lyons, who combined with his stable jockey to capture their second Classic when Even So won the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday evening.
Siskin is as short as 5-4 market leader for the one-mile Group Two test on Wednesday week and Lyons admits “it would be hard” for Keane to pass up the ride – even if travelling to West Sussex means a fortnight on the sidelines.
Should the jockey opt to stay at home, Dettori – unlikely to be required by boss John Gosden – will receive the call.
“We start from the top and work down,” added Lyons. “Frankie is the best in the world and he’s in the wings if we need him.”
More immediately, Dettori dons the silks of Siskin’s owner, Prince Khalid Abdullah, for Enable’s history bid in Saturday’s King GeorgeVI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.
No horse has won the midsummer highlight three times – Dahlia (1973 & 1974) and Swain (1997 & 1998) are the other dual winners in the race’s 69-year history – and John Gosden’s mare is even-money to become the first.
Enable suffered a rare defeat when second to Ghaiyyath in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown 15 days ago and Dettori said: “It’s going be a very wellfought King George, but I’m pleased with what I feel and what I see.”