JC / Railbird - Man of Iron Faces First Test

Man of Iron Faces First Test

Man of Iron, the 2-year-old half-brother of Rags to Riches, Jazil, and Casino Drive by Giant’s Causeway, debuts today in the first at the Curragh for Aidan O’Brien and Tabor et al:

He faces a tough introduction though, because Alyazwa was only just touched off at Leopardstown, Tomas An Tsioda ran well last Sunday, and Ballydoyle stablemates Drumbeat and Rip Van Winkle head a clutch of interesting newcomers.

I’m not quite sure what all that means, other than the spot turns up quite competitive. Post-time for the 15-starter baby race is 6:00 p.m. Irish time (1:00 p.m. ET).
[Results: Man of Iron, “always toward rear,” finished 13th, resembling his famous siblings in a so-so debut. Props to ace handicapper-commenter John S., whose amazing angle play led straight to the 3-1 winner, Rip Van Winkle, a Galileo colt also out of the O’Brien yard.]

Posted by JC in International on 06/27/2008 @ 9:15 am / Follow @railbird on Twitter

9 Comments

Don’t miss this race — given today’s approach to thoroughbred conditioning, this could be his prep for the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

Posted by Ernie on June 27, 2008 @ 9:11 am

Not really, Ernie… Aidan is a big believer in getting his horses a solid foundation (at least at two) for the classics.
The Euros will run their two-year-olds plenty (Johannesburg started seven times at two) but don’t give them much of a run-up to the classic season (who can forget Johannesburg’s one prep for the Derby, a seven-furlong race going uphill on the straight against older horses?)
Jazil and Rags to Riches both failed miserably in their two-year-old debuts. Casino Drive won his debut but it came at three.
I gotta think Man of Iron will need one here, although it will be interesting to see how he handles turf since none of Better Than Honour’s progeny have run on anything but dirt yet.
With 2:40 until post Man of Iron is trading at about 19-to-1 on Betfair.

Posted by EJXD2 on June 27, 2008 @ 10:19 am

Icabad Crane ran poorly in the Belmont; Washington Irving ran off the board in the Epsom Derby; you’ve got to think Rip Van Winkle can break through today for Tarrytown.

Posted by John S. on June 27, 2008 @ 12:00 pm

Rip Van Winkle up for second, Man of Iron 13th. The baby that ran well last Sunday (I love the Europeans and their crazy way of turning fit horses back in less than a month), got the win. Oh! Never mind, there was an inquiry and Rip Van Winkle takes first!
(Thanks for the chuckle this morning, Ernie.)

Posted by Jessica on June 27, 2008 @ 1:21 pm

WAIT A DOGGONE MINUTE!!!!
Don’t you think I deserve at least some propers for picking Rip Van Winkle? Are you kidding me? Please, a little genuine genuflecting and reverential reverence appears to be in order on the serious “angle” play.

Posted by John S. on June 27, 2008 @ 2:48 pm

I was kidding, EJDX2. Kidding. To one-up (or one-less) his half-brother Casino Drive. Belmont (or Derby) as NW1.

Posted by Ernie on June 27, 2008 @ 8:46 pm

Off the subject … do you all see who is running in the seventh at Belmont tomorrow? I hope this trip is less troubling.

Posted by Alice on June 27, 2008 @ 9:48 pm

Monastic Springs meets winners … interesting, especially since the field in the seventh is hardly soft. Looks like ‘Springs worked with All Together, entered in the fourth, back on June 19 at Colts Neck Stable.

Posted by Jessica on June 28, 2008 @ 12:33 pm

Unreal. If Monastic Springs wins, I’ve got the Pick 4. I was all over Frost Giant. Looks like IEAH won’t be firing Dutrow after all.

Posted by John S. on June 28, 2008 @ 7:21 pm

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