A daring first-up tilt at the Doncaster Mile is an option being considered for stakeswinning stayer Ironstein.
The winner of the Group Three Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington in November, Ironstein arrived back at Gerald Ryan’s Rosehill stable last week to be prepared for a restricted autumn/winter campaign.
Ironstein winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 2) at Flemington - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
The six-year-old spent a few weeks relaxing at part-owner John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill property after almost a year in work.
In the 11 months between December 2010 and his Queen Elizabeth victory, Ironstein raced 19 times but will be given a different preparation this time around.
“He came back last Thursday and looks sensational,” Ryan said.
“The plan could be to go to the Doncaster Prelude and then two or three races in Queensland.
“Or he could go first-up into the Doncaster.
“He goes so well first-up and would get into the race with a light weight so it is an option.
“In Queensland we are looking at races like the Hollindale Stakes, the Doomben Cup and the O’Shea Stakes.
“It won’t be like last year when we hammered him.
“The Queen Elizabeth qualified him for the Melbourne Cup so that won’t be a worry.”
Ironstein almost scraped into the field for the 2011 Melbourne Cup which caused Ryan some angst.
The trainer had targeted the Queen Elizabeth believing Ironstein was not mature enough for the gruelling 3200m Cup.
But as several contenders fell by the wayside in the lead-up to the Cup, Ironstein found himself at number 26 in the order of entry and on the verge of gaining a start.
Ironstein was paid up for the Cup along the way to make him eligible for a $100,000 bonus paid to the winner of the Queen Elizabeth if it was among the final Cup acceptors.
“I got a bit worried when he moved up to number 26 for the Cup and I thought he might get a start and I didn’t want him to,” Ryan said.
“I didn’t think he was mature enough for 3200 metres and the Queen Elizabeth was the plan.”
Although he will be a seven-year-old when this year’s Cup comes around, that is no concern to Ryan with the gelding having had just 34 starts so far in his career.
He is by champion colonial sire of stayers Zabeel whose progeny are known for their slow maturity and durability.
Ironstein is out of the Singleton-owned stakeswinning mare Gentle Genius who is most famous for running the great Sunline to a neck in the 2002 Coolmore Classic.
AAP TURF
