In a thrilling race at Curragh, Henri Matisse surged from last place to first, narrowly defeating The Strikin Viking in the GAIN Railway Stakes. Despite being the 8-1 outsider, ridden by Wayne Lordan and trained by Aidan O'Brien, Henri Matisse displayed a strong finish to secure victory.
The early pace was set by Adrian Murray’s Arizona Blaze, with The Strikin Viking and Tunbridge Wells close behind. As the frontrunners began to tire, The Strikin Viking appeared poised for victory until Henri Matisse made a late surge to win by half a length.
This win marked O'Brien's 14th victory in the Railway Stakes, drawing him level with Vincent O'Brien. Following the race, Henri Matisse's odds for the 2000 Guineas were slashed, and plans were made for his future races, including a potential tilt at the National Stakes.
O'Brien praised Henri Matisse's performance and emphasised his potential for future success in higher-level races. Reflecting on the race, O'Brien admitted to a miscalculation in choosing the jockeys for his horses but remained confident in Tunbridge Wells' abilities.
Looking ahead, O'Brien expressed optimism for Henri Matisse's future races and hinted at a possible step up in distance for the promising colt.