Following his impressive second-place finish in the Gain Railway Stakes, The Striking Viking may have to choose between playing it safe or going for gold.
The two-year-old showed promise in his debut at York, winning by a significant margin. However, he narrowly missed out on victory in his first Pattern appearance in Ireland, finishing just half a length behind the winner.
Despite this, the owners of Middleham Park Racing are pleased with his performance and are considering their options for his next race. While the Prix Robert Papin was initially on the cards, they are now leaning towards competing in either the Qatar Richmond Stakes at Goodwood or the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York. Alternatively, they are contemplating stepping up to Group One level with races like the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes or the Prix Morny.
Director Tim Palin is happy with The Strikin Viking's performance and believes he has the potential to compete at a higher level. Although the colt is not in the Phoenix Stakes, Palin is keeping an eye on the competition and is open to considering all possibilities.
Ultimately, the decision will come down to whether they opt for the safe route with Group Two races or take a chance at Group One glory. One thing is for sure, The Strikin Viking has a bright future ahead of him in the world of horse racing.