HAWKESBURY trainer Ed O’Rourke is keen to set the record straight and win his first race on Saturday at a track where he once trained.
O’Rourke, who trained at Royal Randwick earlier in his career, has never won a race there, and is hoping to clinch a hat-trick with his talented sprinter Iron Man in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m).
“I’ve had a winner on the Kensington track, and gone close a few times on the course proper,” O’Rourke said on Friday.
“Frolic, a good filly I trained, ran a close fourth to Alizee in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes at Randwick in February 2018.
“That was her first start for me, and she drew the outside barrier and was less than two lengths from the winner.”
With two wins from as many starts this preparation after returning from a lengthy break following surgery to rectify a breathing issue, Iron Man is confirming the potential his trainer always knew he possessed.
After scoring first-up at Canterbury over 1250m on June 19, the now five-year-old gelding was even more impressive in taking a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 20.
Iron Man carried 55kg then, and rises 3kg for his hat-trick bid.
Tyler Schiller has partnered Iron Man in both wins, and understandably is keen to stay aboard.
“Tyler comes out to Hawkesbury to ride work whenever required,” O’Rourke said.
“Because he was going to Darwin for the Cup last Monday (which he won on Hadouken), he came out last Friday and rode Iron Man in a gallop.
“He likes the horse, and I’m pleased to have him on him.
“Tyler did a magnificent job to prove himself right up with the best in his first year as a senior jockey in the season just completed.”
Not only is O’Rourke keen to notch his first success at headquarters, but he is also looking forward to starting Iron Man there on Saturday.
“I’m sure Randwick is going to suit him, and I was happy to see Cloudland scratched from a midweek event to start in Iron Man’s race,” he said.
“He is a front-runner, and Willaidow, who was runner-up to us at Rosehill, has drawn a bit awkwardly and will also come across.
“It looks to be a race with plenty of speed, and that will enhance Iron Man’s prospects given his good turn of foot.”
O’Rourke claimed a breakthrough city success with Ringerdingding at Rosehill Gardens in February 2018 when based at Randwick, but didn’t train him when he won the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) later that year.
“Ringerdingding was smart, but this horse (Iron Man) has a bigger engine,” he said.
“Iron Man is bred to run a ‘mile’ as his dam Sequential Charm won the 2007 Queensland Guineas at Eagle Farm at that distance, but I’m happy to keep him around 1200m for now.
“I’ll take my time with him, and let him go through his grades.”
Story John Curtis, August 9, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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