Conditions Ideal for Our Ivanhowe in Ranvet Stakes

Trainer Lee Freedman is confident that Our Ivanhowe will prove difficult to beat on heavy going when he returns to the races in Saturday’s Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Lee Freedman is confident that Our Ivanhowe will be tough to beat on a wet track. Photo: Daniel Costello

Lee Freedman is confident that Our Ivanhowe will be tough to beat on a wet track. Photo: Daniel Costello

Our Ivanhowe has been in Australia for close to two years, but the talented seven-year-old is yet to find his ideal racing conditions and has raced on nothing less than a ‘Soft 5’ since arriving in the Freedmans’ care.

Faced with the prospect of a ‘Heavy 9’ at Rosehill on Saturday, Freedman told RSN that the Soldier Hollow entire is a different horse on a rain-soaked track and he is subsequently expecting Our Ivanhowe to be right in the finish of the Ranvet Stakes.

“He’s seven-years-olds, he’s been here two years and he’s never gotten his preferred ground, which is significantly soft,” Freedman said.

“Hopefully we’ll see the best of Ivanhowe – he’s very fit and very well.”

Our Ivanhowe is currently considered an $11 chance of winning the Ranvet Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au and Freedman believes that he is far better than the quote suggests.

“I just looked at the market before I came in and they’ve got him at eleven dollars. Gee, I’d be taking some of that!” Freedman said.

“If Hartnell doesn’t fire, this horse is a gun in the wet.”

Our Ivanhowe began his racing career in Germany and undoubtedly found his best form through a 2014 campaign which heralded consecutive wins in the Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Baden (2413m) and Group 1 Grosser Preis von Bayern (2414m).

Running fifth in each of the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) and Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) upon resuming in 2016, Our Ivanhowe failed to fire in the Group 1 The BMW (2400m), but responded with an impressive performance to win the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in Brisbane.

Our Ivanhowe failed to come up in the spring, but he has trialled well in the lead-up to his return in the Ranvet Stakes 2017.

About The Author

Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.