Numerous big-race winners have raced in the distinctive colours of Waikato Stud and countless more have been bred by the world-famous nursery, but I Wish I Win has earned a unique place on their honour roll by winning a race worth A$10 million.
The four-year-old son of iconic Waikato Stud sire Savabeel produced a blockbuster performance in Saturday’s XXXX Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill, following in the footsteps of I’m Thunderstruck to deliver a second consecutive New Zealand-bred victory in the hugely lucrative four-year-old feature.
Group One-placed in New Zealand at the ages of two and three, I Wish I Win was transferred into the Pakenham stable of part-owner Peter Moody for his four-year-old season.
He started in spectacular style with enormously impressive wins at Caulfield and in the Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1300m) at Sandown but lost some of his lustre with a last-start fifth as favourite in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m).
Saturday was a very different story as jockey Luke Nolen unleashed him early in the home straight and he exploded out of midfield. I Wish I Win bounded past the front-running In The Congo and quickly opened up a big lead with less than 200m remaining.
Fangirl gave him a scare with a determined late challenge on his outside, but I Wish I Win clung on by a nose.
“Great thrill – congratulations to the team at Waikato Stud,” Moody said. “We had faith in this horse and people thought he was disappointing in the Toorak, but the track just didn’t suit him that day. Luke (Nolen) gave him a gun run today, presented him at the right time and got the job done.
“This is the second richest turf race in the world – we’ll take it! It’s tremendous, it’s been a great thrill and a great ride. Mark and Pippa (Chittick) and the team back at Waikato, congratulations team. That’s tremendous, and thanks for inviting me to be a part of this horse.”
Previously trained by the now Hong Kong-based Jamie Richards, I Wish I Win has now had 13 starts for five wins, six placings and more than A$5.6 million in prize-money.
“He’s been progressive,” Nolen said. “He came over with a lowish rating, but he came with nice form around him – albeit without winning races. It was good to see him to build his way into this.
“We thought he was a real chance in the Toorak at his last start. He probably didn’t get track conditions quite to suit. Today we blended into the race really quickly – it sort of took me by surprise, and then he floated around and let the second horse into the race a bit, but he was really good.
“Really pleased. Really rewarding, and even more special that I get to share it with Moods.”
I Wish I Win is out of the Pins mare Make A Wish, whose five winners from seven foals to race also include the well-performed Another Dollar. That daughter of Ocean Park won five races including the Gr.3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) and Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2000m), while her seven black-type placings included a second in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).
Completing a first-and-third result for New Zealand-breds in the Golden Eagle was Gypsy Goddess, who came with an eye-catching late run for third. This was the first appearance by the daughter of Tarzino since she won the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) in June.