Leading Irish rider Colin Keane has made the decision to travel over to England for Glorious Goodwood and will ride his beloved Siskin in the Group One Sussex Stakes.
The jockey has explained that the opportunity is “definitely worth” serving a 14-day quarantine period on his return to Ireland and a race he would regret not being involved with this year.
Keane has had one of his best season to date already landing two Group Ones for his retained trainer Ger Lyons, starting with the 2000 Guineas aboard Siskin and at the weekend when taking the Irish Oaks with Even So.
Although the jockey has now committed to the idea of coming over for the ride in the Sussex Stakes he does admit it may harm his chances of claiming the Irish Champion Jockey Title, something he has not won since 2017.
(Credit ATR) Keane said: “It’s definitely worth sacrificing the two weeks. Hopefully there’ll be other championships in the future, but there might not be another Siskin for a very long time, so I want to take every opportunity.
“He’s been great since the Guineas, he looks a million dollars and we couldn’t be happier with him. We’ll keep him wrapped up and it’s about getting him there in one piece.”
Colin Kean and Ger Lyons have took their partnership to a new level this season by finally managing to land a Group One winner with each other and since then have doubled that tally up.
Keane added: “It was a brilliant weekend – it’s still surreal, and one we’ll remember for a while I think.
“Anytime I’ve ridden a Group One winner there’s been nobody there, so it’s strange but we’re not going to complain.“
There was a lot of pressure for Siskin, but not so much on the filly, so we were just hoping for black type. To go and do what she did was surreal, she was very good.”