Winter Cup is Ryan’s Preference for Ironstein

The Listed $100,000 ATC Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday is trainer Gerald Ryan’s preference for his veteran stayer Ironstein.

Ironstein is likely to start in the Winter Cup at Rosehill.

Ironstein is likely to start in the Winter Cup at Rosehill. Photo by Taron Clarke.

Ironstein is also nominated for the Listed $175,000 Ross Maclean Fellowship Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast this weekend but track conditions will be the deciding factor.

The Zabeel eight year old performs best on top of the ground and Ryan is anticipating a dry track at Rosehill.

“The forecast is good and they tell me the track at the Sunshine Coast is not drying out,” Ryan told AAP.

“He is booked to come home from Queensland on Wednesday so we’ve got until then to make a decision.”

Ironstein has won eight of his sixty-two starts but hasn’t been in the winner’s stall since the Spring of 2011 when he won the Group 3 $250,000 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington but has been placed on numerous occasions since.

The eight year old’s recent form is fair with two fourth placings from his last two starts, one  over 1800m at Rosehill and then a creditable fourth to Brave Ali in the Listed $175,000 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup (2150m) at Ipswich on June 14.

The entries for the Winter Cup have been boosted to eleven after the Australian Turf Club extended nominations after only six were lodged on Monday morning.

Premiership leader Chris Waller has added Permit to his Winter Cup contingent of Hoylonny, Mulaqen and Secessio while Victorian trainer Leon Corstens has entered Zabeelionaire who will appreciate the expected dry conditions in Sydney.

Other late entries to join Destiny’s Kiss, and Sir Bigglesworth are Rapa, Strike Me Lucky and Wazn.

Destiny’s Kiss is looking for back to back wins in the Winter Cup and unlike Ryan, trainer Joe Pride is keen to see some rain arrive this week.

“He won the race last year and it would be great to see him do it again,” Pride said.

The Power Of Destiny five year old has won six times on rain affected tracks and showed his liking for the soft ground when he ran down tearaway leader Astro Avalanche to win the $100,000 Stayers Cup (3200m) at Randwick on June 7 on a heavy 8.

Both Ironstein and Destiny’s Kiss could be headed to Grafton for the Listed $150,000 Grafton Cup (2350m) at Grafton on July 10.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.