Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Jockey Tyler Schiller is sticking with his view that lightly raced galloper Iron Man is a stakes performer of the future and says there's good cause to think he can bounce back at Randwick on Saturday.

Tyler Schiller (Pic: Bradley Photos).

On the surface it appeared the gelding had his chance when fourth behind Willaidow a month ago, when strongly supported on the back of an impressive win over that horse, but trainer Ed O’Rourke discovered post-race there was a genuine excuse.

That combined with the possibility of a solid gallop in the Salix Handicap (1200m) is enough for Schiller to say there’s real reason to be forgiving.

“He pulled up with a foot issue so he had a lot more excuses than what was seen,’’ Schiller said.

“I liked his run, he jumped positive, he was probably a bit closer than we expected but the way the race was run was a bit steadier than the race before when he got further back.

“We weren’t disappointed with him we were just wondering why he didn’t do what he did at Rosehill. When he pulled up with an issue it made sense and made it easier to forgive his run.”

Iron Man started $3.90 in that race, where he was cut out of third near the line and beaten 2.7 lengths, but on the back of the defeat was $10 on Friday.

He ran an identical final 600m to the winner Willaidow in a race Schiller said was a lot more controlled up front than in his Rosehill win, the speed of which he relished.

“I’d expect more pace this weekend but if not he can sit closer,’’ he said.

“He probably doesn’t have as devastating turn of foot when he is closer. He loves the speed on, not because he pulls but he seems to be able to let down better when they go quicker up front.

“I think he gets in well. He’s a nice horse on the improve. Ed and I both think he’s probably a low level stakes horse in the future.”

Schiller hasn’t ridden Arctic Glamour on race day as yet but going into the Group 2 $300,000 Ikon Tramway Stakes (1400m) he’s seen enough of her back in trackwork to know she’s going well.

He said the mare did a big job to finish as close as she did, when narrowly beaten in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) a month ago, given the way the race was run.

While he’s not sure of the strength of the form behind her in that race he believes she’s one of the major chances.

“I galloped her last prep and she’s definitely come back better than what she was then,’’ he said.

“She made up a lot of ground when she wasn’t really entitled to off a mediocre speed (first-up).

“The quality of that race might be a question but she’s drawn well enough to get a nice run. If she can settle a touch closer she’ll finish off and with the run under her belt she’ll be fitter.”

A close up sixth at Group 2 level at just her second start tells Schiller that More Territories could be competitive fresh in the Group 2 $300,000 Darley Furious Stakes (1200m).

The filly was thrown in the deep end after her debut win and wound up 2-1/4 lengths behind Eneeza and Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot.

“It was a really good run, she had to go between horses and didn’t have a lot of luck getting room,’’ he said.

“So it was probably a lot better than it looks but it still looks pretty good when she’s only getting beaten just over two.”

Iron Man runs fourth at Randwick on August 10

More Territories has been given three trials by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, Schiller rode her in the latest and said she appears to be on track run well.

“She was a bit plain in her second one so I think the team elected to give her another trial and I thought she trialled well,’’ he said.

“She got a long way back and the leaders were off and hone but I think she made some nice ground.

“Hopefully she doesn’t have to get back to last but not pushed out of her comfort zone either.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting