Phoenix Stakes Next For Siskin

Phoenix Stakes Next For Siskin

Ger Lyons has confirmed that new kid of the block Siskin, is on course for the Group One Keeneland Phoenix Stakes on August 9.

The Irish trainer looks to have one of the most exciting juvenile prospects at the moment on his hands, after his excellent victory last time out at at the Curragh over Aidan O'Brien's Monarch Of Egypt in the Group Two Railway Stakes.

The two-year-old is three from three in his career so far, and already looks a leading light for Prince Khalid Abdullah for next season's British and Irish classics.

The son of First Defence is currently priced around the 12/1 mark for next year's Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, behind Charlie Appleby's impressive Chesham winner Pinatubo.

Lyons is hopeful nothing gets in the way of Siskin tackling a Group One next time out, which was won twelve months ago by current July Cup favourite Advertise.

(Credit: AtTheRaces) He said: “Siskin is in great order and has come out of the race well.

"We gave him an easy week and he’s out eating grass every day.

"He has a temperament to die for. All roads lead to the Phoenix, please God.”

Other news coming out of Ireland over the weekend regarded Hazapour, who will be stepped back up in trip by trainer Dermot Weld after only managing to finish 12th in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

The four-year-old won a Group Three over a mile back in May at Leopardstown, but failed to get into contention in the royal opener a few Tuesday's ago.

Weld - still celebrating from Falcon Eight's slimmest of victories in the Coral Marathon at Sandown on Saturday, believes ten furlongs could be Hazapour's best trip, given that he won a Derby trial last season before eventually coming home fifth in the Epsom Classic.

(Credit: AtTheRaces) He said: “He has come back fine. Things in the race didn’t pan out his way at Ascot.

"The Meld Stakes might come a little bit too soon for him. I think probably a mile and a quarter is his right trip.

“When he won a Group race over a mile I thought that might be his trip, but he was a length clear at the mile-and-a-quarter stage in the Derby and he won his Derby trial over a mile and a quarter, so I think we might go back to 10 furlongs with him.

“It will just give him a little bit more time in his races. He probably handled the faster ground, but the race just didn’t quite suit him at Ascot.

"There is definitely another Group race in him," he finished.