Ironstein's situation is symbolic of most of the horses engaged in Saturday's $220,000 Group 2 Sportingbet Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield.Trainer Gerald Ryan still harbours BMW Caulfield Cup aspirations with the gelding, but realises he is unlikely to gain a start in the race unless he acquires the ballot exemption that accompanies victory in the 2400-metre event.Ironstein sits equal 22nd in the Order of Entry to the world's richest 2400m handicap, which is limited to 18 starters and four eme

Ironstein's situation is symbolic of most of the horses engaged in Saturday's $220,000 Group 2 Sportingbet Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield.

Trainer Gerald Ryan still harbours BMW Caulfield Cup aspirations with the gelding, but realises he is unlikely to gain a start in the race unless he acquires the ballot exemption that accompanies victory in the 2400-metre event.

Ironstein sits equal 22nd in the Order of Entry to the world's richest 2400m handicap, which is limited to 18 starters and four emergencies.

Ryan would like to run in the Caulfield Cup but if his seven-year-old misses out he will stick to the second-tier staying races including the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, which he won in 2011.

"He's in the big Cups and if he gets there he gets there," Ryan said. "But if he doesn't get into the Cups he'll probably run in the Herbert Power, the Moonee Valley Cup and the Queen Elizabeth."

Ironstein is one of 12 runners in the Herbert Power who need to win to be assured of a Caulfield Cup berth.

Dance With Her (27 in order), Gatewood, Shahwardi (both =28th), Bianmick (31st), Mr O'Ceirin and Red Eye Special (both =32nd) have all passed the first elimination clause but sit down the Order of Entry.

Precedence, Auld Burns, Budai, Excluded and Silent Surround are yet to pass the first elimination clause, which they will do with a top-three finish, but they would need to win to be assured of a place in the top 18.

The four runners in the Herbert Power that are not among Caulfield Cup entries are Exceptionally, Reuben Percival, I'm Jake and Guns At Five.

The pressure is on, but Ryan is confident Ironstein can win. He was a luckless third behind Bianmick in the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley on 28 September and trained on well since.

"He's had a trouble-free preparation, each run back has been good and he didn't have a lot of luck at Moonee Valley in the JRA Cup," Ryan said of Ironstein, who will start from barrier five with Brenton Avdulla in the saddle.

"He's back to the 2400 (metres) on Saturday and I always thought a nice race for him this prep could be the Herbert Power where he mightn't strike the best ones."

The Herbert Power isn't the only race at Caulfield that carries a BMW Caulfield Cup ballot exemption with the $400,000 Cathay Pacific Caulfield Stakes also offering one.

Four of the remaining seven runners in the 2000m Group 1 were third acceptors for the Cup with Midas Touch and Sanagas equal 11th in Order of Entry and guaranteed a run. Alcopop and Sabrage share equal 22nd with Ironstein, however, and need to win to get in.

The David Jones Rose Clinic Toorak Handicap also carries a ballot exemption but none of Saturday's field of 10 remain in the Caulfield Cup.

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