Top Sydney stayer Ironstein is on track for a defence of his Caloudra Cup crown following a thrilling Group Three Tattersall’s Cup win at Eagle Farm today.
A beautifully bred son of champion New Zealand sire Zabeel, Ironstein hit the front in the straight, was clearly headed by eventual runner-up Shuffle the Cash before coming back strongly to win.
The ride from Brenton Avdulla was near perfect.
A hopeful protest fired in by Luke Nolen, rider of the runner-up alleging interference over the concluding stages, was expectedly dismissed by stewards.
The win was the second stakes success in three runs for the Gerald Ryan trained Ironstein.
The quality performer is now a three time stakes winner for his breeder and co-owner John Singleton.
Singleton sold Ironstein for $250,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Melbourne based trainer Brian Jenkins.
The larrikan businessman bought back into the galloper – who was syndicated amongst a group of mates with a common brewery link.
“There’s a group of us who were involved with Bluetongue that race him and a few others who have pubs around Newcastle,” Singleton told AAP.
“This horse seems to race every week and keeps getting prizemoney.”
“I guess Gerald will run him in the Calounda Cup and then the Grafton Cup on the way home (to Sydney).”
Ironstein started his career in Victoria, running on four occasions – placings once at Kyneton over 1850 metres.
When he was transferred to Sydney he became a revelation – winning his first two starts there including a Maiden at Canterbury and Class Two at Kembla Grange.
Always improving with maturity, Ironstein really hit his straps last year when he won the Caloundra Cup – his third straight success in that campaign.
After a string of excellent runs he bounced back to his best two starts prior to today when successfil in the listed WJ McKell Cup at Rosehill.
In between that win and his success today, the five-year-old ran a close up fourth behind Tullamore and Glass Harmonium in the Group Two Brisbane Cup.
Ironstein is now a seven time winner and eight time placegetter from just 27 runs. His earnings have raced past the $500,000 mark – at last count it was $516,900.
By Cambridge Stud’s resident champion sire Zabeel, Ironstein is from the former classy Danehill mare Gentle Genius.
A winner of four races and over $476,000, Gentle Genius won a Group Three Tesio Stakes and listed Millie Fox Stakes but is probably best remembered for her close second to Sunline in a Coolmore Classic.
Gentle Genius is a beautifully related mare – being a half sister to international group winner Daralincha – the dam of three stakes winners and closely related to European champion Darjina.
Winner: Ironstein
Breeding: Zabeel-Gentle Genius (Danehill)
Race: Qld Tatt’s RC Tattersall’s Cup G3 (2200m)
Sold for: $250,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Strawberry Hill Stud
Buyer: Brian Jenkins
Earnings: $516,900
Owner(s): I Burford, Strawberry Hill Stud Syndicate (Mgr: J Singleton), M McKeogh, D McKeogh, A Margan & D North
Trainer: Gerald Ryan (Rosehill)
