Ironstein will resume his spring campaign in the Allan Barnes Coaches Handicap at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday.

The seven-year-old gelding was in contention for a place in last year’s Melbourne Cup and will be looking towards making the field this year.

Ironstein will resume in the Allan Barnes Coaches Handicap at Rosehill. Photo by: Taron Clarke

Trainer Gerald Ryan was not disappointed that Ironstein wasn’t offered a run in the $6 million race in 2011 and feels he will be better placed this time around.

“Ironstein only missed by two spots getting into the Cup,” Ryan said.

“I didn’t think he was ready for that race.”

While Ironstein will be resuming in a regular handicap race this weekend, Ryan has big plans for his spring preparation.

“The plan is to go to the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley and then maybe the Cranbourne Cup, the Moonee Valley Cup and the Queen Elizabeth again,” he said.

“He will be entered for the Melbourne Cup and if he can get his rating up, then I’m sure the owners would want to go there.”

Ryan is not over confident about Ironstein’s chances this weekend, noting that the 1,500 metre distance will probably prove too short for the gelding.

“The race is a starting point and probably too short,” he said.

“We’ll get a better idea when he gets up around 1800 to 2000 metres.”

Ironstein will be chasing his first Group 1 win this spring, after experiencing success at the top level throughout his career.

The Zabeel gelding had six starts during the autumn and winter carnivals, with his best result being a second placing in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap behind Hume.

Ironstein is a dual Group 3 winner, with titles in the Tatt’s Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes already to his name.

The gelding has won eight of his 40 race starts and has earned more than $730,000 in prize money.