THE unflappable, imperturbable and still unbeaten Siskin delivered a long cherished first classic success for Ger Lyons as he came through his biggest test to date in flying colours to land an enthralling Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh yesterday evening.

After his exemplary juvenile season Siskin lined up as the winner of all four of his starts. His form marked him out as the best horse in the race. However, he had to prove his mettle all over again on his first three-year-old start and his first try beyond six furlongs.

As it happened Siskin and an ice cool Colin Keane, displaying all the poise and class that befits a champion jockey, carried the day in ultimately clear-cut style which was remarkable given that the outcome looked a potential cliff hanger at one point.

A member just the second draft of yearlings sent to Ger Lyons by Prince Khalid Abdullah, Siskin found himself surrounded by horses entering the last quarter of a mile.

At this stage it looked as though the 2/1 favourite might need luck in running but a composed Keane deftly angled his mount left to get some racing room on the inside of Armory and when he was in the clear Siskin picked up in electrifying style. He swept by the chief Ballydoyle hope Lope Y Fernandez and at the line was a commanding length and three quarters winner and the margin of victory is a striking testament to the quality of this First Defence colt.

“It’s a dream come true. This means the world after 30 years of hard graft. I’m delighted for Colin, the horse, all of the team and Prince Khalid for entrusting this brilliant horse to us. This is just huge,” said a visibly elated and thrilled Lyons whose first domestic Group 1 success came with this colt last August.

“The stall two draw was a worry but Colin is just the best around at the moment and he had the horse to get him out of trouble too. You don’t get a Guineas handed to you and both horse and jockey had to be brave out there today,” added the trainer who is among just five currently active Irish trainers to have won this race.

Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas result

1 Siskin (Colin Keane) 2/1 fav

2 Vatican City (Padraig Beggy) 14/1

3 Lope Y Fernandez (Seamie Heffernan) 9/2

4 Armory (Wayne Lordan) 4/1

5th Fiscal Rules (Kevin Manning) 16/1