The Strikin Viking lands German Group Three for Wathnan

The Strikin Viking secured his first success since his racecourse debut as he blazed a trail in the Group Three Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche in Germany.

The three-year-old – named in honour of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland – made a splash when first appearing on the track at York in June 2024, making all for a comfortable maiden success before being beaten just half a length by subsequent Classic winner Henri Matisse when upped to Group Two company in the Railway Stakes.

Following that run, Wathnan Racing bought the son of Inns Of Court from Middleham Park Racing for an undisclosed sum and switched him from Kevin Ryan to Hamad Al Jehani – but after an initial second in the Richmond Stakes, The Strikin Viking was beaten in two further juvenile runs before being gelded over the winter.

Down the field on his first two starts this term, The Strikin Viking was only a neck off victory at Chester last time and he built on that with a determined effort over six furlongs at Baden-Baden.

Racing prominently for Faleh Bughanaim, The Strikin Viking kept finding for pressure to hold off the challenge of War Bride by three-quarters of a length, with fellow British raiders Kylian and Arabie finishing fourth and eighth respectively.

Wathnan’s racing adviser Richard Brown said: “It was absolutely fantastic, delighted. It’s Wathnan’s first winner in Germany and how apt that it should be achieved by a Qatari trainer and a Qatari jockey.

“All credit to Hamad and his team as he hasn’t been straightforward. Things didn’t go to plan last year at Goodwood (in the Richmond) and we sort of lost him a bit after that, but everyone has been very patient with him, we’ve obviously gelded him now and all credit to them for getting him back.

“He ran very well at Chester last time and it was a good performance today. I’m just delighted for Hamad and his team and Faleh as well, who I thought gave him a very good ride.

“Today was the plan, so we’ll enjoy that and wait until Hamad and Faleh get back and have a debrief with them. I’ll talk to all the team and see if we can come up with a plan.”