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A long-range plan to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Ironstein came off at Flemington on Saturday, but not without a hiccup along the way.
A long-range plan to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Ironstein came off at Flemington on Saturday, but not without a hiccup along the way.
Trainer Gerald Ryan identified the Group Three Queen Elizabeth (2600m) as an ideal target earlier this year but his plans were nearly thwarted when Ironstein looked as if he might make the Melbourne Cup field.
Ironstein was paid up for the Cup because the Queen Elizabeth carries a $100,000 bonus for horsesamong the Cup final 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 and $100,000 bonus was what we wanted."
Ironstein ($20) was ridden by Brenton Avdulla who timed his attack on the leaders to perfection, moving up to Paddy O'Reilly ($20) and Shootoff ($9.50) in the final 400 metres.
He fought off Shootoff to win by 2-1/4 lengths with Paddy O'Reilly, who had led from the jump, holding on to third the same margin away.
Favourite Bauer ($2.10), who missed a start in the Melbourne Cup by less than $1000 prize money, was another length away fourth after occupying much the same position throughout.
Ryan said he had a few concerns about Ironstein racing counter-clockwise as he had been unsuccessful when prepared in Victoria as a young horse.
"He raced down here early and he had no form and I was a bit worried he might not like this way of going," he said.
"But he sprinted good today. He had a lovely run and appreciated the good track and the big track."
Ironstein is raced by a syndicate headed by John Singleton who owns the Zabeel gelding's dam Gentle Genius who is most famous for running a close second to Sunline in the 2002 Coolmore Classic.
Michael Rodd, who replaced the suspended Damien Oliver on English horse Bauer, said the nine-year-old showed little dash at the finish.
"What you saw is what you got," Rodd said.
"He was a bit plain. Maybe that turn of foot has been taken out of him with the Cup in mind.
"He was probably entitled to finish a bit closer.
"There was a nice even tempo and I was happy where I was but he just didn't quicken."
Future plans for Bauer remain undecided with the 2008 Melbourne Cup runner-up to remain in Australia whether it is for racing or duties as a clerk of the course horse.
