The well-supported I Am Me ($5.00) has come with a withering burst to claim the $1 million Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, stamping herself as a possible contender for The Everest (1200m) later in the spring.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare was first-up after a 119-day spell on Saturday, and with the daughter of I Am Invincible boasting an impressive first-up record of five starts for three wins and two more minor placings, she continued to add to her formidable fresh resume.
Nash Rawiller was able to get on the back of the leader from barrier two, with Way To The Stars ($61.00) bowling along in front, with the James Cummings-trained Red Card ($15.00) sent forward under Adam Hyeronimus.
Giga Kick ($4.60) was friendless in the market and ran accordingly, sitting on the three-wide line throughout the journey, with James McDonald unable to slot in for cover at any stage.
Private Eye ($6.00) produced his usual late burst in the concluding stages, but it was the ever-consistent Bella Nipotina ($4.60) surging over the top with 200m left to travel.
I Am Me simply got every favour in the end—thanks to Rawiller holding the rail until the last possible moment—and she clung on to victory as the pair cleared out significantly on the remaining rivals.
2024 Concorde Stakes replay – I Am Me
Johann Gerrard-Dubord was on course to represent the Ciaron Maher stable and was impressed with the return of their mare.
“She has come a long way, but she’s improved every prep,” said Gerrard-Dubord.
“Obviously last prep in those group ones you always find one too good, but she’s come back very well.”
“She’s been spending some time at Bong Bong, we have some very good tracks there, it’s very relaxed and it’s probably just what she needed. The team there have done a very good job with her and she loves these conditions, fast tracks.
“She’s got a very good record first up, gate helped, it was a very good ride from Nash [Rawiller] and yeah great to get another win for Dynamic [Syndications].
“Obviously they have had a lot of fun with this horse and it’s been a plan to target the sprint series with her and this was the race we had in mind from the get-go and everything worked out well.”
Nash Rawiller was delighted with the performance and was impressed with the fight his mount showed when Bella Nipotina loomed.
“She was amazing, wasn’t she,” said Rawiller.
“I was surprised, because I really dove through that gap, came off Way To The Stars back, and as soon as I produced her, I thought, I’m in trouble, because, you know, obviously, Bella Nipotina was coming; it was pretty quick at that point.”
“I thought she’d out-tough me, but I loved the character of my horse. She picked up and really just wasn’t going to lay down.”
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