Victory For Viking
Wednesday, 06 May 2026
It was a winning day at the Mid-Weeks for STR with the recently purchased Nordic Viking 'Sarge' knocking off his maiden victory in Race 2, the Maiden Plate over the 1200m at Murray Bridge this afternoon.
The three-year-old son of So You Think has made an impression on the stable since joining the ranks a few weeks ago, catching the eye of stable rider and strapper Madison Halford. The gelding has also taken to his work aplomb, impressing up the hill indicating he can progress through the grades accordingly.
The stable was hopeful Sarge would acquit himself well today, however, the wide gate, wet deck and first start for the stable had all cautious. Pleasingly, Sarge pinged the gates and instantly negated the wide barrier by rolling forward and clearly leading the field. Young gun hoop Taylor Johnstone made sure to let Sarge roll and find his rhythm rather than restrain and potentially fight him causing him to over race. Sarge was there to be beat as the sitting duck all the way down the long straight, however, his inner fortitude and class saw him stave off his rivals and record his maiden victory.
Post race with racing.com's Terry McAuliffe, Stephen Theodore commented "we paid 55 for him, which is a lot for us, a little stable with sixteen in work with a tried horse sort of theory, but he's been running in big races in Sydney, and what he did today I didn't expect it to unfold that way, possibly might be a bit fresh going into it after that little foot issue, but he's got an abundance of ability, and when he works up that hill he's got a very good recovery rate by the time he gets back to his barn he hasn't even worked, so this won't be his only win, there's going to be plenty more install".
The talented three-year-old did have form on his CV from his time in Sydney with John Sargent and definitely relished the drop in grade on his new home deck. It was evident after the race that Sarge had a good blow, indicating he has fitness and improvement to come, which will likely see him find a suitable race in metropolitan Saturday grade.
Sarge's big band of owners were ecstatic post-race savoring the moment in the Winner's Bar and the partnership of STR and On Fire Racing continues to prosper, as they head into this Saturday's G3 Hahn Cummings Stakes with the inform Fine Future on G1 Goodwood Day.
The three-year-old son of So You Think has made an impression on the stable since joining the ranks a few weeks ago, catching the eye of stable rider and strapper Madison Halford. The gelding has also taken to his work aplomb, impressing up the hill indicating he can progress through the grades accordingly.
The stable was hopeful Sarge would acquit himself well today, however, the wide gate, wet deck and first start for the stable had all cautious. Pleasingly, Sarge pinged the gates and instantly negated the wide barrier by rolling forward and clearly leading the field. Young gun hoop Taylor Johnstone made sure to let Sarge roll and find his rhythm rather than restrain and potentially fight him causing him to over race. Sarge was there to be beat as the sitting duck all the way down the long straight, however, his inner fortitude and class saw him stave off his rivals and record his maiden victory.
Post race with racing.com's Terry McAuliffe, Stephen Theodore commented "we paid 55 for him, which is a lot for us, a little stable with sixteen in work with a tried horse sort of theory, but he's been running in big races in Sydney, and what he did today I didn't expect it to unfold that way, possibly might be a bit fresh going into it after that little foot issue, but he's got an abundance of ability, and when he works up that hill he's got a very good recovery rate by the time he gets back to his barn he hasn't even worked, so this won't be his only win, there's going to be plenty more install".
The talented three-year-old did have form on his CV from his time in Sydney with John Sargent and definitely relished the drop in grade on his new home deck. It was evident after the race that Sarge had a good blow, indicating he has fitness and improvement to come, which will likely see him find a suitable race in metropolitan Saturday grade.
Sarge's big band of owners were ecstatic post-race savoring the moment in the Winner's Bar and the partnership of STR and On Fire Racing continues to prosper, as they head into this Saturday's G3 Hahn Cummings Stakes with the inform Fine Future on G1 Goodwood Day.
