Discussions about the vast disparity between Australian horses and their international counterparts are a constant of Melbourne's spring racing carnival.

To point out just one of the many differences, Sydney trainer Gerald Ryan presents his seven-year-old Ironstein.

Considered to be extremely immature by Australian standards, Ryan likens the gelding to the lightly-raced overseas stayers who descend on the cups carnival each season.

Ironstein will line up in the Group Two Drake International Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday with the Melbourne Cup - this year's and possibly next year's - in mind.

Ryan says Ironstein's age is irrelevant because his history parallels are more associated with a British or European stayer.

"If he was a horse who was racing overseas I reckon he'd be facing up to his 20th start on Saturday not his 50th - and he probably would have won three races," Ryan said on Tuesday.

The veteran trainer has been patient with the gelding, seeing his potential as a mature-age performer.

"It was three years ago tomorrow since he won his maiden first-up at Canterbury and I said to the owners then - tongue in cheek - this horse will run in the 2013 Melbourne Cup," Ryan said.

"They said he'd be seven years old by then and I said `that's how immature the horse is.'"

Ryan is confident ahead of the Drake International and hopeful that Ironstein can win a spot in the Melbourne Cup field.

"If he gets a run in the Melbourne Cup, he'll run," Ryan said.

"I know we race our horses a lot more than the internationals but I think the internationals have proven over the last couple of years that if they're looked after they can race on."

Ryan believes Ironstein can compete for another 18 months but Saturday's race will give some indication of his future.

"He's sound, he's well. Whether he's good enough or not remains to be seen," he said.

Meanwhile, Ryan has decided to run his filly Cavalry Rose in the William Crockett Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night rather than in the Telstra Phonewords Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.