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Trainer Donna Logan had to keep it real about Ironside’s 4YO series aspirations if she was to maintain the Group 1 Singapore Derby (1800m) on July 21 as his ultimate target.

A former one-time winner over the mile at Avondale in New Zealand, the Jimmy Choux four-year-old was brought to Kranji with the last Leg of the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge as his grand final, but the road to the Derby has not quite gone to plan thus far.

In six starts since his local debut second in a Class 4 Premier race over 1000m in October, Ironside  has mixed his form. 

He won twice, a Novice race over 1200m in November and a Class 4 race over 1400m two runs back on April 7 when ridden for the first time by Ben Thompson. But when stepped up to Class 3 company off his maiden victory, he failed, though not beaten out of his ground.

At his last start with apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen astride, he fared a bit better – a closing fourth to Glasgow in a Class 3 race over 1400m.

When asked if the gelding raced by New Zealand owner Lars Pearson might not get past Class 3 company, Logan begged to differ.

“It’s been very hard placing him in his races. The programme didn’t suit,” said the Kiwi handler.

“His goal is the Derby, but it’s been very difficult to place him over ground. As much as we would have loved to go through the 4YO series, we had to opt out of the Silver Bowl (first Leg over 1400m on June 9) to go forward.

“It was either the Silver Bowl or this Sunday’s ($70,000) Class 3 race over 1400m. We picked the Class 3 race, but he will have to run a bold race moving forward.

“He’s currently in very good form and I hope he gives his best this Sunday. Benny rides him again as he knows him very well and rode him fantastic when he won on him.

“Barrier No 11 is not ideal, we have to deal with what we get, but I’m sure he’ll run a good race.”

Thompson actually saw that gate as an omen as that was where they jumped from when he won on him. The Australian jockey would have actually put a line through Ironside with such a wide barrier not too long ago.

“He won when he was drawn awkwardly in 11 last time I rode him,” said Thompson.

“Consequently, I thought he might overrace, but he was very relaxed even though he was wide without cover. He was entitled to weaken out but he kept going.

“It was the same thing at his last start, albeit I didn’t ride him. He was again caught wide but he didn’t pull – he’s going the right way.

“To be honest, when Donna first hit me with her intentions to run him in the Derby, I was worried about his attitude. He was quite eager to get on with it, albeit on breeding, he is by Jimmy Choux and out of a New Zealand mare who won over the mile and up to 2000m.”

Whether Ironside faces the starter in the Derby remains to be seen, but Thompson was happy with the current disposition.

“He felt good this morning even if it was just a slow morning. I galloped him on Saturday and he went very well,” he said.

“He is on his toes and is much the same as at his last two runs, albeit I didn’t ride him at his last start.

“He’s going fantastic and is definitely a good horse. If you look at his record, he’s been beaten by good horses like Nimble, Glasgow and Karisto.

“If the stars align and he wins this Saturday, we can then look at a Class 3 race over the mile in three weeks’ time, assuming he will then be on 74 to 76 points.

“The other option is the Stewards’ Cup (second Leg over 1600m on June 30), so there are plenty of options depending on the way he goes.”

Meanwhile, Logan said that her last feature contender Makkem Lad’s run in Saturday’s Group 1 Singapore Guineas might have looked disappointing on paper, but the mile was always a query. Ridden by apprentice jockey Wong Chin Chuen, the bold frontrunner led on the outside of Pennywise, but was a spent force at the top of the straight, eventually compounding to run last.

“Makkem Lad overraced. He was taken on and it didn’t suit him,” said Logan.

“The 1400m and the mile are too far going forward. We’ll give him a freshen-up and bring him back to 1200m races.

“He’s a tough little guy and I’m sure he’ll bounce back.”