Siskin gives Lyons overdue reward and has the class to take him to Classic level

Siskin's victory in the Phoenix Stakes rectifies a major omission in the career record of his trainer Ger Lyons. For the former jump jockey it has been a long road to a first domestic Group 1 triumph, just a few months ahead of the 25th anniversary of his first winner, Maelalong, in a 5f maiden at Navan on October 12, 1994.

His career has been characterised by an unyielding ambition to incrementally improve his stable's performance year on year. He has been pragmatic in selling on promising horses in the international market and has gradually raised his game to a level at which he can attract major patrons such as Siskin's owner Khalid Abdullah.

The competition in Group 1 juvenile races in Ireland has been intense throughout the last quarter-century, particularly among colts. Leaving aside the senior figures whose careers were well established before Aidan O'Brien's arrival on the scene, Lyons is only the third 'new' Irish trainer, following Jessica Harrington with Pathfork in the 2010 National Stakes, and the now-retired David Wachman with Sudirman in the 2013 Phoenix Stakes, to win an Irish Group 1 juvenile race with a colt since Vincent O'Brien's retirement.