Marathon Division

MAN OF IRON
Owner: Derrick Smith
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Pedigree: Ch.c., 3, by Giant’s Causeway – Better Than Honour, by Deputy Minister

Positives: Man Of Iron’s on track performance hasn’t quite lived up to his pedigree just yet. Out of the blue hen mare Better than Honour, this 3-year-old colt is a half brother to two Belmont Stakes winners, Rags to Riches and Jazil, and also to the high class Japanese colt Casino Drive, who was all the rage last year before being scratched the morning of the same Belmont that was won in improbable fashion by Da’ Tara. Man of Iron has yet to place, much less win, in Group stakes company in nine career starts, so on paper he rates far below fellow Euro shippers Mastery and Father Time, but he arrives fresh from facile score in a minor event over the all weather at Dundalk in Ireland and in fact has won two of three career starts over synthetics. He’s longest winning trip has been a shade over 11 furlongs, so he’s unproven at the BC Marathon trip.

Concerns: Not only is Man of Iron unproven in Group company, he’s untested at the BC Marathon trip. While he was visually impressive in his most recent victory — prompting trainer Aidan O’Brien to substitute him for high class Septimus, the horse he intended to bring — make no mistake, Man of Iron is no Septimus.

Bottom Line: Based on pure form and not his pedigree, Man of Iron has little chance to compete with either Mastery or Father Time, but he does act on all weather so there’s a glimmer of hope that he’ll leave his modest Irish form behind once he arrives in California. Prior to his most recent win, he did finish fourth at 33-1 (beaten seven lengths) to Mastercraftsman in the listed Diamond Stakes, which doesn’t look too bad on paper. He has a career top Racing Post speed figure of 106. Prior to his upset victory in the 2008 Marathon, Muhannak’s career top was 101.