SISKIN is being aimed at the Breeders’ Cup Mile and will then head to Japan to stand at stud.

Trained by Ger Lyons for Khalid Abdulla, the First Defence colt won the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas in tremendous style earlier in the season, stretching his unbeaten run to five.

Since then he has been beaten in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and the Prix du Moulin, losing his chance in the latter race at ParisLongchamp, having become upset on loading into the stalls.

“He’s worked this morning, he’s in great order and looks fantastic,” said Lyons on Wednesday, speaking on Nick Luck’s Daily Podcast.

“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.”

While Siskin is being trained for the Breeders’ Cup meeting, he would only run if the ground is on the quick side.

“It has been lovely ground at Keeneland, but I got a video through yesterday of torrential rain. I worked in Keeneland so I’ll have to touch base. I wouldn’t like to see him over there on soft ground,” said Lyons.

“If it was a three-year-old race you’d stick your chest out and take any of them on, but the older horses are the spoke in the wheel.”

Off to stud

Stud plans were also announced this week for Group 1 winners Golden Horde, Without Parole and Wooded.

Commonwealth Cup winner Golden Horde has been retired because of injury. He was also a Group 2-winning juvenile in the Richmond Stakes, and finished second in the Group 1 Middle Park at Newmarket.

Trainer Clive Cox said this week: “He suffered a tendon issue that proved to be longer term than first realised, so rather than miss a complete season it was with reluctance that it was decided to retire him to stud.”

A decision on where he will stand at stud has still to be made.

Al Shaqab’s Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye winner Wooded has been retired to stand at Haras de Bouquetot in France.

A son of Wootton Bassett, Wooded was trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and was twice placed in group races as a juvenile. Rated 121 for his victory in the Abbaye, he is the first French-trained three-year-old colt to win the Abbaye in 45 years.

Without Parole will stand at Newsells Park Stud in England. The son of Frankel won the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2019 for trainer John Gosden.

Since being switched to trainer Chad Brown in America, he has gained Grade 1 placings in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Shadwell Turf Mile and Shoemaker Mile.