Our Ivanhowe has produced a huge turn of foot in the final straight at Rosehill Gardens to win the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) in dominant fashion this afternoon.

Our Ivanhowe’s wet track ability was the difference in the Ranvet Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart

Lee & Anthony Freedman have been waiting for a rain-soaked track for close to two years with the Soldier Hollow entire and the team were extremely confident that the horse would prove tough to beat on this afternoon’s ‘Heavy 9’.

Jumping from the gates well, jockey Kerrin McEvoy elected to take a sit on Our Ivanhowe as Antonio Giuseppe, Sofia Rosa and Stratum Star blazed the early path.

Settling into a good rhythm at the tail of the pack alongside Hartnell, McEvoy peeled the seven-year-old off the fence upon arriving at the bend and slowly began to wind up the horse at the pack straightened.

Immediately responding when asked for an extra effort, Our Ivanhowe mustered a massive turn of foot to fly home down the outside of the field; extending to the line to beat a brave Hartnell by four lengths; The United States boxing on to finish third.

Co-trainer Anthony Freedman was on hand for Our Ivanhowe’s dominant win in the Ranvet Stakes

“It panned out beautifully for us,” Freedman said.

“The horse deserves his day in the sun – he’s a gentleman, he’s an absolute pleasure to have and very, very grateful to have a horse like him.

“Even on hard tracks when he’s feeling it, the horse gives everything and I was just so proud today that he got his ground and did the job.

“The agent in Germany that sold it to the boys said that this was the best wet-tracker in the world and he may well be, so we’ve just got to find another one.

“He’s an older horse and he likes a bit of room. He responds well to that.

“We’ve won this race in years gone past, but I couldn’t think of a nicer horse to do it.”

Our Ivanhowe took a few runs to find form upon resuming in 2016, but charged home to post his first Group 1 win in Australia in the Doomben Cup (2000m) during the Brisbane Winter Carnival.

In taking out the 2017 Ranvet Stakes, Our Ivanhowe has now posted seven wins and three minors through a combined twenty-three starts, highlighted by four Group 1 triumphs.

2017 Ranvet Stakes Results