To say that William Iron Arm has been a disappointment in his last few starts would be an understatement.
The son of William Longsword clearly has a lot of talent but by the same token he also has a lot of issues. The three-year-old colt followed up a third place on debut with two successive victories, the last coming in June 2023. Then something must have gone wrong. He did not race again until 3 February 2024 and in that time he had changed trainers, which transpired in November, and moved to Tony Peter.
There is no doubt his work home excited Peter’s training team because not only did William Iron Arm make his comeback in the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas, but he was well supported in the betting to return as a winner, shortening from an opening price of 6-1 to go off second favourite at 18-10.
He proved no match for favourite Sandringham Summit but ran well enough to finish third after challenging with genuine fervour going through the 400m mark, and it seemed he just need the run and a win would not be far away.
William Iron Arm has had four runs since then and that elusive victory has not come. Peter has tried different equipment. Blinkers proved a failure and produced his worst run so far.
But in fairness, this colt is not an easy ride and does not provide his jockey with much assistance. He tends to hang, run with his head turned to the left and shift about in the running.
Last time he looked all over a winner, then started to hang, losing ground on well-supported Joker, before running on again, going down just 0.30 lengths.
On Thursday he will line up in a Graduation Plate over 1600m on the Turffontein Inside track, and once again he is weighted to trot in. This time Peter has fitted him with earmuffs and hopefully that will settle him down a lot more and ward off any distractions.
Calvin Habib will take the ride once again.
If William Iron Arm fails to produce the goods again the obvious danger has to be Alec Laird-trained Greeting My Master. This Master Of My Fate gelding has been racing predominantly in Cape Town but moved up to the Highveld in May.
Both of his runs since have been encouraging, finishing a 2.15-length fifth behind talented Mastermind on debut and then running a cracking one-length second to La Moohal in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein Standside track.
Ironically, it was Laird who trained William Iron Arm at the start of the colt’s career and he would no doubt enjoy inflicting a defeat on his former charge.
Gavin Lerena takes the ride on Greeting My Master.
Clive Robinson
