Ironstein scooped a $100,000 bonus for his connections as well as over $150,000 in prizemoney when he cruised to victory in the G2 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The aptly-named gelding was having his 18th start this year

Ironstein (6g Zabeel – Gentle Genius by Danehill) was balloted out of the Melbourne Cup which made him eligible for the $100,000 bonus in the Queen Elizabeth.

The NZ bred gelding stormed home to defeat Shootoff (Duelled) and Paddy O’Reilly (O’Reilly) by more than two lengths.  English import Bauer finished fourth as the even money favourite.

“He got to number 26 in the Melbourne Cup but this was his main mission all along,” Ryan explained.  “He’s only finished out of the first five twice in his last 19 starts.”

Ironstein was a $250,000 purchase from the Strawberry Hill Stud draft at the 2007 Gold Coast Magic Millions.  He won the LR Caloundra Cup at Sunshine Coast in 2010 and added the G3 McKell Cup and LR Qld Tatt’s Cup earlier this year.

A son of champion New Zealand based sire Zabeel, he is from the former outstanding racemare Gentle Genius who died in August 2009.  She earned over $476,000 from four wins in Sydney and a close second to Sunline in the G1 Coolmore Classic.