I Wish I Win Retired to Life of Luxury at Waikato Stud

Media Release - Wednesday March 12

From being hidden behind the hedge as a foal due to being born with his left near-fore leg sitting at a stark angle, to proudly representing Waikato Stud and it’s white, green and royal blue colours on the world stage, the decision to retire I Wish I Win (ex Make A Wish) from racing has been made with the son of Savabeel having granted many wishes in his dazzling career.

Farewell I Wish I Win - thanks for the memories - image Steve Hart

“We’ll always do what’s best for the horse,” said stud principal Mark Chittick. “This decision wasn’t easy but on the advice of Peter and Katherine we all felt the time was right for Wishy to hang up the reigns.”

 “He will come home and have a paddock right outside our house for the rest of his days. He will be looked after like a king, because he is one.”

Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, Wishy’s final start came in the Gr.1 Futurity Stakes on Saturday, 22 February finishing .3 lengths in third to Mr Brightside and Tom Kitten.

Advertisement

“You don’t have a horse like this, an experience like this without so many people helping,” he says.

 “It wouldn’t have happened without out the staff here, Jamie and Chanel Beatson who broke him in, Jamie Richards (first trainer), of course Moods and Katherine and all the jockeys who looked after him so well. And especially to Gio Spiga his strapper for his special care and attention. We have loved it and I wish I could go on but the horse comes first. So, he is coming home.”

The six-year-old raced on 25 occasions having won or placed on 21, he amassed A$ $12,844,303 in prizemoney for three stakes wins including the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and Gr.1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1200m), plus an exciting win in Golden Eagle (1500m).

Other highlights include a phenomenal second in the 2023 The Everest (1200m) along with placings in a further eight Group 1 events.

“He’s retiring at the top of his game,” said co-trainer Peter Moody.

“He ran third a margin in weight-for-age and it’s a shame we didn’t win, but he’s been a fabulous horse for the stable and given Katherine, myself and the stable the ride of a lifetime over the last two-and-a-half years.”

“Our stable are extremely grateful to the team Waikato for giving us this opportunity.”

I Wish I Win is out of the Pins mare Make A Wish (NZ), who produced the stakes winner Another Dollar (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), and is from the family of Group 1 winner Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel).

“Did we think that foal would take us on this ride? Definitely not, we were hugely disappointed to have a foal born with that leg out of one of our favourite mares but we gave him every chance and he returned that to us big time. We’re looking forward to getting him back home that’s for sure,” concluded Chittick.

With his racing days behind him, I Wish I Win now returns to where it all began. From an uncertain start to a dazzling career rated the best sprinter in the world, he leaves the track as a horse that defied expectations, captured imaginations and took Waikato and all of New Zealand on the ride of a lifetime and cemented himself as a champion in every sense of the word.

A wish granted, indeed.

News from Waikato Stud

Advertisment
More Reading...
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
Kiwi Bred Ready to win Everest
Kiwi-bred sprinter I Wish I Win will be flying the New Zealand flag high when he heads to Randwick on Saturday where he will be seeking redemption in the A$20 million The Everest (1200m).
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
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.