GOOD news from Japan, where the Ger Lyons-trained classic winner Siskin (First Defence) has made the perfect start to his stallion career, his first runner, Kitten In The Sky, winning on her debut over seven furlongs last Sunday at Kyoto.

I say perfect start, but with a rider. Siskin stands at Shadai Stallion Station but due to injury only covered 20 mares in his first season there, and just seven foals are registered. He commanded an initial fee of about €28,000, but that has fallen this year to €12,000. However, his books of mares have grown, and his current yearling crop numbers 46, and he looks set to have a similar number of foals.