Connections of quality Sydney based stayer Ironstein scooped a $100,000 bonus as well as over $150,000 in prizemoney when he cruised to victory in Saturday’s Group Two Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington.
One of a handful of horses balloted out of the Melbourne Cup – failing to make the cut of 24 runners – Ironstein became automatically eligible for the $100,000 bonus if he proved successful in the Queen Elizabeth.
And successful he was – steaming clear in the straight to beat proven Group One winner Shootoff by two and a quarter lengths, while Paddy O’Reilly was a similar margin back in third place.
The warm favourite Bauer, a narrow runner-up in the 2008 Melbourne Cup won by Viewed, was the best of the unplaced brigade in running fourth as a $2.10 elect with bookmakers.
Ironstein’s trainer Gerald Ryan, whose other carnival runners ran well this week without winning, said he was delighted to snare one of the feature events of the famous Flemington Cup Carnival.
“You’ve got to aim at them and it’s a great carnival to be associated with and we were a bit unlucky in a couple of other little races (earlier in the week) and this is our first runner since,” Ryan said.
“He was in (the Cup). He got to number 26 (in the ballot order) and we paid up for the $100,000 bonus in this race.”
“I was getting a bit worried that we were getting so close (to making the Cup field) because this is the race we wanted all along. We brought him to Melbourne for this race.”
Ryan said Ironstein was a consistent galloper who deserved a Flemington feature.
“He has been fantastic. He had his first up run this prep last Boxing Day and he had eight days off after he won the Tatts Cup in Brisbane and I think, in his last 19 starts, he has finished out of the first five only twice.”
Ryan said while Sandown was an option next weekend, he was leaning to sending the son of Zabeel to the paddock for a break suggesting there were plenty of nice races in the autumn.
The win continued a great run of success at the carnival for Melbourne born and bred, but now Sydney based jockey, Brenton Advulla.
“It’s been good and I’ve really enjoyed myself down here,” the popular young rider said after the win.
“This carnival is like a working holiday. (I’ve) been able to spend some time with the family and I’ve been lucky enough to get a couple of nice rides.”
“Gerald (Ryan) has always been a big supporter of mine and I’ve had a bit of luck on this horse so it’s good to be able to get another black type win.”
A $250,000 purchase from the Strawberry Hill Stud draft at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by original trainer Brian Jenkins, Ironstein has now earned almost $800,000 from his eight wins and eight placings from 34 outings.
Ironstein, a son of champion New Zealand based sire Zabeel, is from the former outstanding Sydney based racemare Gentle Genius.
Best known for almost beating star kiwi mare Sunline in a Coolmore Classic, Gentle Genius won four races and earned over $476,000 and won stakes races in Sydney and Melbourne.
She hails from an outstanding international family – the family of Group One winners including Darjina, Darsi, Daryakana and Daryaba.
Winner: Ironstein
Breeding: Zabeel-Gentle Genius (Danehill)
Race: VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes G2 (2600m)
Sold for: $250,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Strawberry Hill Stud
Buyer: Brian Jenkins
Earnings: $797,150
Owners: I Burford, Strawberry Hill Stud Synd (Mgr: J Singleton), M McKeough, D McKeough, A Margan & D North
Trainer: Gerald Ryan (Rosehill)
