Our Ivanhowe performed strongly without winning during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival and co-trainer Lee Freedman is delighted with the progress of the imported stayer ahead of his autumn campaign.

Ben Melham is set to continue his association with Our Ivanhowe during the 2016 Autumn Racing Carnival. Photo by: Daniel Costello

Our Ivanhowe made his Australian racing debut with a flat effort in the Group 3 RA Lee Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on May 16 and he started his spring preparation with a ninth place finish in the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on September 19 before he finished a tough second in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington on October 4.

The Group 1 winner produced his best performance in Australia to finish third in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17 and he finished a luckless tenth behind Prince Of Penzance in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.

Freedman told Racing Ahead this morning that he was thrilled with the way that Our Ivanhowe performed during his spring preparation and he believes that there will be even better things in store for the son of Solider Hollow during his upcoming autumn preparation.

“We were delighted with the horse in the spring,” Freedman said.

“We didn’t get the win that we were so keen to get, but from where he had been at the autumn and the beginning of the spring, he made such improvement and a measurable improvement in his benchmark handicap and international rating.

“He had a nice spell, he had about a month in the paddock during the beautiful spring weather and he looks in great nick.

“His feet have improved a lot.

“Hopefully Sydney gets a little bit of that wet weather which it normally does and it will really play into his court.”

The Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 26 is set to be the major 2016 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival for Our Ivanhowe, but Freedman also plans to include him in the acceptances for the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12 and the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 9.

Freedman has not won The BMW since champion mare Makybe Diva took out the race in 2005 and the triple Melbourne Cup winner delivered him his latest victories in both the Sydney Cup and the Australian Cup.

Our Ivanhowe is currently available at 2016 The BMW odds of $9 and he is on the third line of betting behind Preferment ($7) and Almoonqith ($8).