Talented stayer Ironstein lived up to the high regard he's held with connections when he steamed home to win Saturday's listed WJ McKell Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.

Well handled by red hot apprentice Josh Adams, Ironstein was able to reel in the leaders in the straight and defeat Sherpa Tenzing and Skyerush.

Stable foreman Brad Tyson, representing trainer Gerald Ryan who was in Brisbane, was glad to see the son of Zabeel show his true form.

"He's done a really good job with this horse Gerald, to get him back," Tyson said.

"He had a couple of weeks out at the water walker and he's back to his best."

Tyson said the gelding was best suited with races of strong speed and he praised Adams for a top ride.

"Josh rode him really good. He didn't get itchy too early and he actually travelled better."

"He'd been in some slowly run races this preparation and he hadn't quite be right and travelled that well."

"Josh kept him on the bit and got him out at the right time," Tyson said. "He'll stay all day - he's a very nice horse."

Adams was pleased to be able to team up Ironstein to win his first stakes race for Gerald Ryan.

"Backing up from Wagga into today was always going to help him," Adams said moments after the win.

"His work has been really good and I was confident coming into today and he showed the true horse he is. He raced very well today."

"I was wary about getting too far back on him which he can do a little bit. But I put him up a little bit closer today and it paid dividends."

Adams said he was delighted to be able to win the feature race on the Sydney card on his father's 47th birthday.

Ironstein, a graduate of Stawberry Hill Stud, was purchased for $250,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

By Cambridge Stud's resident champion sire Zabeel, Ironstein is from the former classy Danehill mare Gentle Genius.

A winner of four races and over $476,000, Gentle Genius won a Group Three Tesio Stakes and listed Millie Fox Stakes but is probably best remembered for her close second to Sunline in a Coolmore Classic.

Gentle Genius is a beautifully related mare - being a half sister to international group winner Daralincha - the dam of three stakes winners and closely related to European champion Darjina.