Kiwi-bred sprinter I Wish I Win took another step towards defending his crown in next month’s Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) with an 800m jumpout at Pakenham on Tuesday.
Bred and raced by Waikato Stud, in association with Moody, I Wish I win collected his first elite-level scalp in the race after recording four previous Group One placings, including the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m), Gr.1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m), and Gr.1 Newmarket Handcap (1200m).
Moody was pleased with I Wish I Win’s hit-out on Tuesday under Will Price, with regular jockey Luke Nolen out injured, and said he may have one more jumpout prior to heading to Sydney.
"I thought it was very pleasing, he carried a featherweight in Will Price. It would be like carrying a postage stamp compared to Luke Nolen I'd imagine," Moody told Racing.com.
"He just settled out the back and ran home nicely. It's always nice to trial in a heat where there's a competitiveness about it instead of just dawdling along. Without being asked, he lengthened and stretched to the line and rounded off.
"More pleasing was the way he pulled up, the report from Will was very positive.
"He's really come up nicely, he's very clean in the wind, very clean in his action, and just seems to be enjoying life."
I Wish I Win was runner-up in last year’s The Everest (1200m), and the A$20 million slot race remains his primary goal this year, while an appearance at Queensland’s Winter Carnival remains an option following a light autumn preparation.
"He might go to Brisbane and have a spin up there and then have a little freshen in the slightly warmer weather," Moody said.
"The logical race would be to give him a spin three weeks before The Everest in a nice 1200m (race) somewhere. If it's not there, we might even look at the same programme again (Memsie, Everest). As unusual as the prep looked, we weren't too far wrong, but we'll worry about that when we see the programming."
Nolen was on hand to watch I Wish I Win's jumpout and Moody said the injured hoop will ideally be back in the saddle for the TJ Smith.
"I'm not sure when Luke's going to get back, he looks as big as me at the moment, so he's probably as much chance of riding him in a race as me,” Moody quipped.
“He's got two or three weeks to get things rolling. Nothing is decided there but Luke's the incumbent, it's his ride to lose.
“It'll come down to his form, his fitness, his wellness and condition I suppose. He's been a wonderful servant for the stable and he'll have first call on it."