Burleigh brings Iron Will to town for test of mettle

Trainer Tash Burleigh sees unbeaten three-year-old Iron Will’s city debut at Warwick Farm today as a learning experience for her and the horse.

The Goulburn trainer suspects that she has an above-average gelding on her hands after two runaway country wins, and, as much as the benchmark 64 Blue Point First Yearlings Handicap (1000m) is a nice transition, it’s an opportunity for Iron Will to gain some much needed experience and for Burleigh to get some idea where his level could be.

He debuted on his home track in August won by four lengths over his maiden rivals on a heavy track. Then he emerged at Moruya just over two weeks ago and made light work of a class 1.

“He’s still got a lot to learn. This might be a bit of the deep end for him, but he’s gone so well at his last two starts and done it so effortlessly,” Burleigh said. “We want him to get amongst it and learn a bit more and run a really good race so we’ve got a horse for the future. “With a few more starts, we might learn he’s a little bit better than a Highway horse or he might be that level.”

After jumping with them at Moruya, Iron Will darted underneath the pack to lead before extending the margin early in the straight and coasting to a 1-length win that earned a pat from jockey Billy Owen about 50m from home.

Burleigh said it was noticeable that the horse laid out in the straight and, while she would be more than happy to lead again, she believes at least 1200m won’t be beyond the horse so she hopes the tempo of a city race will allow him to relax more.

“He’s into looking at other horses doing things over the other side of the track; the penny just has to drop with him,” she said.

“Billy’s just got to jump and let him find his feet and roll along.
“Thankfully there’s a few speedy horses in it which is good, it should hopefully get him amongst it and let him see what racing is all about instead of just jumping to the lead and running around like it’s a trial.”