The GAIN Railway Stakes |
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| Group 2, Curragh 13:40 €120,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f  |
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1 Henri Matisse 8/1
2
The Strikin Viking 7/2
3
Arizona Blaze 6/1
5 ran NR: Red Evolution, The Parthenon
Distances: ½l, 3¼l, hd Time: 1m 11.72s (slow by 0.82s)
🏇💨 From last to first!
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) June 30, 2024
🎨 Henri Matisse (Wooton Bassett) comes home strongly under Wayne Lordon to deny The Strikin Viking and land the Group 2 Railway Stakes at the @curraghrace for @Ballydoyle
📉 The winner is now 10/1 for the 2000 Guineaspic.twitter.com/eP4gLwXQZH
Henri Matisse, an 8/1 outsider, made a stunning comeback from last place to win.
Arizona Blaze, who finished third at Royal Ascot, set the pace early on, racing solo, while The Strikin Viking, named after Erling Haaland, led the rest of the pack.
Despite winning his debut just 15 days ago, The Strikin Viking quickened from the front and seemed to have the race under control. However, he was gradually overtaken by Henri Matisse, who, under the guidance of Wayne Lordan, surged ahead to win by half a length. The pair finished over three lengths clear of the rest. This victory marked Henri Matisse’s second career start, following his winning debut in May.
"The six (furlongs) today we felt might be on the sharp side for him," said Lordan, "but he finished off the race well and I think he won well at the line.
"We went a good gallop and I was able to just hang onto the back of them and from three out I started to squeeze and I thought the last half furlong was the best part of it.
"I hit the line well and thought he had a look when he got there. He's by the right stallion (Wootton Bassett), they show pace but I think this fellow is going to stay as well so I think (this race is) a stepping stone for when he goes up in trip."
GAIN Railway Stakes (Group 2)
€120,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 6f
5 ran
Going: Yielding
POS. (DRAW) DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5) Henri Matisse 2 9-5 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 8/1
2 (6) ½ The Strikin Viking 2 9-5 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 7/2
3 (4) 3¼ Arizona Blaze 2 9-5 Adrian Murray David Egan 6/1
4 (2) hd Tunbridge Wells 2 9-5 A P O'Brien Ryan Moore11/8F
5 (1) 6 Principality 2 9-5 Richard Hannon Sean Levey 4/1
NR 4 (3) Red Evolution 2 9-5 M D O'Callaghan NON RUNNER
NR 5 (7) The Parthenon 2 9-5 A P O'Brien NON RUNNER
