Phoenix winner Siskin a 'ridiculous' price for 2,000 Guineas says Ger Lyons

Siskin's ante-post price for next year's 2,000 Guineas is "ridiculous", according to trainer Ger Lyons, who was speaking the day after his stable star provided him with a coveted first domestic Group 1 success.

Siskin produced an impressive display to win the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on Friday night and is a top priced 12-1 for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, the market for which is headed by Pinatubo at 7-2.

In the immediate aftermath of Siskin's win Lyons described talk of Newmarket next spring as "very premature", and speaking to the Racing Post on Saturday he said: "Putting him up as one of the favourites at 12-1 for the Guineas in July is ridiculous.

"It's stupid talk and when you know that these men [like Coolmore] are going to start unleashing Galileos in September that are going to change the whole picture, it's just taking people for granted. That's all it is."

Siskin provided Colin Keane and Ger Lyons with a first Irish Group 1 win on FridayCredit: Patrick McCann

Lyons acknowledges punting is an important part of racing's income stream but stressed there should be a clear divide between the firms and the sport's participants.

He added: "I've always had my own morals on the issue. There's no way I'd allow a bookie to sponsor me."

Mastercraftsman, who won the Irish 2,000 Guineas in 2009, is the last horse to win a Classic having landed the Phoenix. Aidan O'Brien has dominated the Phoenix to such an extent that Siskin became just the sixth horse this century to win the race for a different trainer.

Ger Lyons celebrates Siskin's win with his rider Colin Keane after the Keeneland Phoenix StakesCredit: Patrick McCann

The first top-level victory in Ireland for Lyons and 2017 champion jockey Colin Keane appeared to be a popular one, and Lyons said: "They're brilliant [at Ballydoyle] and they keep the bar where it is, but people just like to see somebody different and it was just us against them, so to speak – three in the race against you. Everybody likes an underdog."

He added of the Khalid Abdullah-owned juvenile's smart display on rain-softened ground: "He's a good colt and he's proved he's the best of that bunch anyway.

"The ground was the same for them all and he'll be better on better ground. We'll worry about the next phase of it once we make a plan."

The Juddmonte-backed Middle Park Stakes was mentioned as a possible target for the son of First Defence immediately after Friday's success, but Lyons stressed on Saturday no definite plan had been made.

He said: "All's well with him this morning. It hasn't been discussed where he'll go yet and the fact that Juddmonte sponsor the Middle Park wouldn't sway them."

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