A Book 1 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale graduate, Ironton (IRE) made an exciting career debut in the $100,000 Ranvet Super Maiden (1250m) at Randwick-Kensington on Wednesday.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd for Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes, the 3-year-old son of Lope de Vega launched down the centre of the track to defeat the Zoustar gelding Xidaki by a head with the Trapeze Artist gelding Side Show a length back in third.
A half-brother to the Group III winner Cima Emergency (Canford Cliffs), Ironton (IRE) was a 200,000 gns purchase for Stephen Hillen Bloodstock from the Mountain View Stud draft at the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.
“What a lovely horse,” Lloyd said.
He was very professional for a first starter. He knuckled down in the last 100m off a slow tempo, so he did well to take four lengths off a nice horse in Xidaki.
His dam Golden Song (Singspiel) is an unraced half-sister to Group II Grand Prix de Deauville winner Cocktail Queen (Motivator) out of the stakes winner and multiple Group placed Premier Prize (Selkirk).
Lope de Vega (IRE) stood four seasons at stud in Australia, leaving Santa Ana Lane, Gytrash, Spanish Reef, Vega Magic, Spanish Whisper, Archedemus, and French Fern.
The son of Shamardal stands at Ballylinch Stud, Ireland for €125,000.
