Everything on the Table for I Wish I Win

Media Release - Wednesday February 12

Peter Moody, co-trainer of multiple-Group One winner I Wish I Win, revealed his star sprinter may take a vastly different route to recent campaigns this autumn.

A story well-known, I Wish I Win was bred at Matamata nursery Waikato Stud and initially raced up to Group One level in New Zealand, before transitioning to Moody’s Victorian base. The son of Savabeel gained a cult-like following after winning the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) and $3 million Gr.1 T.J Smith Stakes (1200m) as a four-year-old.

I Wish I Win taking out last year's Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1400m) at Eagle Farm.  Photo: Grant Peters

Later in 2023, the gelding would go on to come desperately close to winning the $20 million The Everest (1200m), before adding a second Group One to his name in last year’s A$1 million Kingsford Smith Cup (1400m) in Queensland.

In an attempt to go one better in last year’s Everest, the gelding didn’t show his customary top form that fans had become so accustomed to, and Moody indicated that he would not hesitate to retire the $12 million-earner if his lustre for racing had diminished.

However, I Wish I Win indicated he still has plenty to give on the track, recording the second of two comfortable jump-out victories this preparation at Pakenham on Tuesday.

“He looked to do it nicely, Jamie Melham rode him and she was happy with his action,” Moody told Racing.com. “He was good in the wind, he won the trial softly and had a little blow.

“He’s had two jump-outs and looked super in them, he hasn’t lost any of his want at this point. I hope he takes that attitude to the races.

“I’m really pleased with where he’s at, he seems to be enjoying life so I’m hoping he pulls up well and we’ll sit down and get a bit serious about mapping out a programme for him.”

I Wish I Win has never raced beyond a mile, but Moody is not ruling out middle-distance options later in the autumn.

“The first option would be the Futurity (Gr.1) on Saturday week over 1400m at Caulfield, but that’s certainly not set in stone,” Moody said.

Advertisement

“I actually nominated him this morning for the T.J Smith, the Doncaster Handicap and the Queen Elizabeth, so a 1200, 1600 and 2000m Group One, all at the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

“That shows you how much I’m open-minded as to where we might go, where we might resume and what type of races we may run in. I think it’s a great thing, we’ve got one of the world’s top-rated sprinters and he’s got terrific form around the mile. He’s won a Golden Eagle at 1500m and his pedigree says he would love 2000m.

“If we did look to go beyond that mile, you’ve got to start lengthening and stretching his work out, but we’re not worried about that at the moment. We’re just worried about getting him back to the races and performing.

“He’s sound, happy and healthy and wanting to be out there.”

While no plan has been determined for I Wish I Win, there is certainty about the surfaces Moody and training partner Katherine Coleman will present their gelding on come raceday.

“I think one thing we will be mindful of is firm tracks,” he said. “He’s an older horse, we know he’s a little bit jarry in the knees and he always has been, that’s a bit of his physical conformation.

“I wouldn’t be presenting him on a Good3 anywhere, that’s one thing you can have your last on. I wouldn’t hesitate to withdraw him, no matter what race it is, if the track does firm up. I don’t think he needs Heavy10s which he has won on, but he needs toe in ground.”

In the TAB Futures market for next Saturday’s Gr.1 Futurity Stakes (1400m), I Wish I Win is currently the $4.80 second-favourite behind defending champion and fellow Kiwi-bred Mr Brightside ($2.10). – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Stars on Show at Caulfield Spring Opener
The 2025 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival officially bursts out of the gates this Saturday with the Stow Storage Caulfield Spring Opener, headlined by the first Group 1 of the season, the $750,000 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes.
Sires With Winners - Friday August 29
Here is the full list of 38 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ruling Court Dies of Laminitis
Hugely talented Justify colt Ruling Court has been a headline horse since May last year when Godolphin paid €2.3million for him at the Arqana Breeze Up Sale and he is back in the headlines overnight with the tragic news of his euthanasia due to laminitis.
Vale, Naturale
On our recent trip to Victoria for the stallion parades we had the pleasure of staying at Gilgai Farm where we met the lovely Naturale, the unraced sister to Black Caviar, who had a difficult life and achieved fame and fortune as the dam of champion sire Ole Kirk.
One to Watch – Gosford
He’s big and beautiful and it looks like the patient approach might be about to pay off for this talented I Am Invincible four year-old who won on debut at Gosford on Friday.
So You Think Summer Star a Spring Contender
So You Think gelding Revelare was the find of the summer down in Melbourne racking up five successive wins between December and the start of March with the untapped 5YO putting up his hand as a spring contender when saluting at Caulfield on Saturday.
Brilliant Return for Blueblood Zoustar Filly
Saturday’s NZ Horse Ambulance Winter Appeal 3YO (1000m) continued the Te Akau stranglehold over the three-year-old spring opener at Riccarton, but not with the horse that most expected.
So You Think Cognito Back in Form
Group Two winner Cognito snapped a 22-month win drought in emphatic style in Saturday’s $50,000 Join TAB Racing Club Open (1580m) at Riccarton.
Kiwi Bred I Wish I Win Victorious in G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup
After placing in all of his first four starts of the season, Waikato Stud’s sensational sprinter I Wish I Win returned to the top of the podium in Saturday’s Group I EVA Air Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm.
Chittick to Cheer I Wish I Win
Pride will be an over-riding emotion for Mark Chittick when I Wish I Win goes to the post for Saturday’s A$20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Randwick.