Ironstein Out, Spirit In At Rosehill

Full Of Spirit is a confirmed starter at Rosehill on Saturday after trainer Peter Moody decided against a trip to Queensland for the Ipswich Cup.

The consistent mare was an acceptor for both venues and Moody’s decision to run her in the Freshmark Handicap (2000m) over the Listed Queensland feature was welcomed by Clare Cunningham who oversees Moody’s Sydney satellite operation.

Full Of Spirit was runner-up to Cameo in the Scone Cup two starts ago before a third to Transonic over 1800m at Rosehill.

Cunningham is convinced the addition of blinkers is poised to help the mare convert her brace of minor placings into city success.

“She’s got the blinkers on on Saturday. We just thought she wasn’t quite finishing off as well as we expected,” Cunningham said.

“She has been looming up on the turn and while she hasn’t been far off she just needs that little bit more. Hopefully the blinkers will help.

“She has also been crying out for 2000 metres and she gets it on Saturday.”

While Full Of Spirit will stay in Sydney, Ironstein will be scratched from the same race in favour of an Ipswich Cup start.

With Rosehill rated in the slow range on Wednesday, Ironstein’s connections opted to head north in the hope of a firmer surface.

“He drew well in both places, the track was the thing that swayed it,” said Blake Ryan, representing his father and trainer Gerald.

Meanwhile, Bart and James Cummings are still weighing up their options with recent recruit Romantic Moon who has been paid up for two races at Rosehill.

Winner of the Sweet Embrace Stakes as a juvenile, Romantic Moon was fifth in the Furious and Tea Rose Stakes as a spring three-year-old before joining the Cummings’ stable.

She finished among the tailenders first-up but showed a glimpse of form last start when she did her best work late for a third at Rosehill.

James Cummings said they were leaning towards running her in the Ardrossan Batlow Apples Hcp (1400m) for fillies and mares in which she would carry 55.5kg after the claim of apprentice Sam Clipperton.

“She had some good two-year-old form against Thump. We’re just trying to get her back into that sort of form … we’re part of the way there based on her last run,” James Cummings said.

– AAP

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