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).
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained gelding was runner-up to Think About It in the rich feature last year and he will once again fill Trackside Media’s slot this weekend, where he will jump from the more favourable barrier nine compared to his ace draw last year.
“We have worked out that one is not in his favour and of his last five or six runs he has drawn one four times,” said Waikato Stud principal Mark Chittick, who bred the gelding and races him in partnership with Moody.
“We certainly wanted to be outside of four and it wouldn’t have worried us if it was the outside barrier. It (barrier nine) sets us up perfectly. We are hoping we can sit three back, a couple out, he can do what he wants to do and hopefully finish first.
“I think there is a bit of speed in the race, which is probably a bit different to last year, which is great.”
Chittick is excited to have partnered with Trackside Media once again and said second time round has felt like a more enjoyable experience.
“It is fantastic to be tied up with Trackside again and going over there and having a crack at it with New Zealand in behind us,” he said.
“Last year, he was the first New Zealand horse to run in the race and Entain was new in town. It was full on.
“By the time we got to about now, and certainly Saturday, it was like ‘let’s just get on with this’, whereas this year it has been a bit easier to get on with our day job, which is day and night at this time of the year.
“Around the farm, the buzz is really building towards Saturday and we are really looking forward to it.
“Happy horse, happy trainer and happy owners. It is a hit-and-run mission this year (heading over from New Zealand) and hopefully we can come home with the prize.”
Moody is just as excited about the weekend and said I Wish I Win is in great order ahead of his weekend assignment.
“Myself and Katherine are proud to be representing Entain and Waikato Stud with I Wish I Win in The Everest on Saturday. He is in great order,” he said.
“He will have a few days there to settle in pre-race. A few showers of rain are forecast up there, but that won’t disappoint us, it takes a little bit of jar out of the ground for him.
“I think barrier nine is ideal, he will be able to sit midfield or the second half three deep and get a bit of cover and be the first one to peel and hopefully the first one over the line.”
It has been a big week for Waikato Stud, with Mark’s son, Harry, becoming the third generation of the Chittick family to sell at an Inglis sale.
The 18-year-old offered a Super Seth colt out of unraced Thorn Park mare Believe You Me through Ohukia Lodge’s 2024 Inglis Ready2Race Sale draft. He went through the sale ring as lot 15 and was purchased by Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu for A$240,000.
“It was really nerve-racking, I couldn’t sleep (the night before) but it is all worth it and it all paid off,” Harry Chittick said.