Cherokee’s Ironman will put his title on the line during the traditional Boxing Day Stakes qualifying races at the Bermuda Equestrian Centre.

Arnold Manders’s gelding won the Aged Stakes last season on the way to an impressive double, which included the coveted season-ending Champion of Champions.

Manders’s pony has plenty of momentum going into the Boxing Day Stakes, having achieved the season’s fastest time of 1min 03sec flat in the Free for All at the Vesey Street racetrack last weekend.

“He’s been running quite well all season, even with the bad draws,” Manders said. “He’s got ten firsts, five seconds and one fourth in the Free for All, which is [for the] the fastest ponies, and is probably the only horse that has been running in the time bar all year.

“He did two 1:03/3s and 1:03 in the last four heats, and that’s exactly how we tried to work it out to make sure he is peaking for the right time for this Stakes race and in two weeks’ time after for the Best Three before we start prepping him again for the Champion of Champions.”

As the defending champion and the season’s fastest pony, expectations will be high for Cherokee’s Ironman and driver Tyler Lopes.

“I think him and Tyler have an X on their back because Tyler is doing well with several horses, plus he has the favourite for the Aged Stakes,” Manders said.

“But I’m sure they will be fine if they perform to the best of their ability.

“In racing, anything can happen on the day. He can break harness or do anything or might not be feeling well. But I try and stay on top of all of that and what will be will be.

“I know he will go into the race as the favourite and hopefully he will come out with what we expect.”

This year’s Boxing Day Stakes qualifying races features two divisions: Aged Stakes and Two-Year-Old Stakes where Lopes’s Indiana-bred filly, Google Me, is the favourite.

The four fastest ponies from each division will advance to the final to be held on New Year’s Day along with the consolation races for the remaining ponies.

Also competing in the Aged Stakes is Simsfield Hardtimes, who won the Three-Year-Old Stakes title last season, with Ryan Burrows in the driving seat.