The Ger Lyons trained Siskin is heading over America for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at the start of November and after that will be sent to Japan where he will stand at stud.
Siskin was the top two year old in Ireland last season, seeing off all competition in his four starts including landing his trainers first ever Group One in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
The three year old showed he was a pace merchant and used that to good effect on his seasonal debut in the Irish 2000 Guineas, landing his trainers first ever Classic win.
With all systems go he stepped out of his Irish comfort zone to head over to England for the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
The two time Group one winner was the favourite to keep his unbeaten streak going, looking to land his sixth win in as many races, but was seen off in the final stages by the very pacy Mohaather for trainer Marcus Tregoning.
He headed into arguably an even tougher contest when going to France for the Prix du Moulin and after receiving some market support he strangely gave the worst performance of his career.
After having an illustrious career the son of First Defence will now have one final outing in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland before finishing his career on the track and starting a new one at stud.
“He’s worked this morning, he’s in great order and looks fantastic,” said Lyons.
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— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 12, 2020
What a star - Siskin is all class in the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas! 👏 @gerlyonsracing @ctkjockey @JuddmonteFarms @curraghrace
Results ➡ https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/mUBspURtAQ
“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 Juddmonte and Coolmore still have to sell their best horses for economic reasons.
“I thought when I got to the stage of winning a Guineas and an Oaks we’d get to see their careers out. We got to this stage by selling our best horses yet here we are, at the top table, still selling our best horses which is disappointing and frustrating to say the least.”
Lyons has spoken about the last time his stable star was seen and believes you can draw a line through that run with him running his race before the start when having stall issues, not for the first time.
He went on: “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.
“The Moulin wasn’t part of my plan and any time I’ve changed my plan mid-season it’s never worked out. It changed because the ground was nice and there were sales and things going on behind the scenes. I would have personally loved to have played it safe and gone for the Boomerang.”