Leading Australian jockey Luke Nolen and Kiwi-bred sprinting star I Wish I Win will return to Randwick for the A$20 million The Everest (1200m) next week, looking to go one better than last year’s desperately unlucky second placing in the world’s richest turf race.

Nolen has shared riding duties on the Waikato Stud-bred six-year-old this year with expat Kiwi hoop James McDonald but has been on board for I Wish I Win’s two lead-up runs this spring for a fifth in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) and thid in the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).

I Wish I Win’s co-trainer and part-owner Peter Moody said Nolen has provided the son of Savabeel with the perfect preparation leading into next week’s flagship slot race.

“Luke has ridden ‘Wish’ to absolute precision in his two starts in Melbourne,” said Moody, who trains in partnership with Katherine Coleman.

“After last year’s unlucky second, Luke is as hungry as we are to get the job done in this year’s Everest.”

I Wish I Win is running in the slot held by Trackside Media, the broadcasting arm of Entain Australia and New Zealand, who also operate the New Zealand TAB.