Middleham could roll Group One dice with The Strikin Viking
Railway Stakes second has a variety of options.
Connections could be torn between “sensible shoes” or wanting to “reach for the stars” with The Strikin Viking following his gallant second in the Gain Railway Stakes. The two-year-old built on his impressive debut at York, where he travelled strongly to make all and win by two and three-quarters lengths, to fail narrowly on his first Pattern appearance in Ireland on Sunday. Kevin Ryan’s colt hit the front with a furlong to go in the Group Two race at the Curragh, but he was headed by Aidan O’Brien’s Henri Matisse in the closing stages to finish a half-length second in the five-runner contest.2nd for THE STRIKIN VIKING in the Group 2 Railway Stakes. Gutted to be beaten in the final strides, but another super run!🥈@kevinryanracing | @tomeaveswigan | @curraghrace #TeamMPR
pic.twitter.com/MgwK90bnfY — Middleham Park Racing (@MprUpdates) June 30, 2024
Owners Middleham Park Racing are buoyed by the display of their charge after the son of Inns Of Court moved three and a quarter lengths clear of Norfolk Stakes third Arizona Blaze. That has opened plenty of opportunities for The Strikin Viking, although director of Middleham Park Racing Tim Palin has ruled out the previously touted Group Two Prix Robert Papin at Chantilly later this month. Instead, it will be a call on whether to remain at this level in the Qatar Richmond Stakes at Goodwood or Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York, or to step up to Group One company with a return to the Curragh for the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes or a trip to France for the Prix Morny at Deauville next month. “He’s back home already, he ate up and trotted up just fine. We can start making some plans,” Palin said.
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