The stage is set for redemption with Kiwi-bred sprinting star I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and Trackside Media teaming up again to chase glory in this year’s A$20 million The Everest at Randwick in Sydney on 19 October.
The Waikato Stud-bred speedster went agonisingly close to winning the 2023 edition of the world’s richest race on turf, only getting clear late to fly into 2nd, less than half a length away from the winner, Think About It.
Trackside Media, the broadcasting arm of Entain Australia and New Zealand, who also operate the New Zealand TAB, have again secured a slot in the world’s richest race on turf.
Entain Australia and New Zealand, Managing Director – New Zealand, Cameron Rodger, said the results from last year spoke for themselves, as New Zealanders embraced the race like never before.
“Turnover on The Everest doubled from 2022 to 2023, with turnover on the race easily setting a new record, while the number of customers engaged on the race was also twice that of 2022,” Cameron Rodger said.
“Turnover on the entire Everest meeting at Randwick also saw a massive increase, up more than 57 percent on the previous year. This momentum has continued since then, and The Everest is now a race clearly marked on the calendar of all New Zealand racing fans.
“We’re delighted to be involved with Wish again, together with the team at Waikato Stud and Moody Coleman Racing. His win in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup in Brisbane last month showed us he’s going to be perfectly primed to climb the Randwick mountain in October and we’re sure he’s going to have plenty of Kiwi fans cheering him on too.”
I Wish I Win’s breeder and part-owner Mark Chittick, of Waikato Stud, said the opportunity to combine with Trackside Media for The Everest in 2024 is the perfect approach for this year’s edition.
“Wish has given us one hell of a ride from life as a foal through to performing at the elite level. Joining forces again with the Trackside Media team to put things right sets the scene nicely for 19 October.
“I’ve seen plenty of racing fans around the country wearing the I Wish I Win caps from last year’s quest, and I have no doubt New Zealand will get behind him again.”
Fellow owner Peter Moody, who trains I Wish I Win with training partner Katherine Coleman, is relishing the chance for another crack at The Everest.
“We’re fired up about re-joining the journey with Trackside Media. I’ve been affiliated with Entain for a long time, and that relationship was only made stronger with the terrific experience we had last year. We went so close in 2023, and I am hopeful that we can go one better in just under three months.”
Racing fans won’t have too long to wait to see Wish back at the track, with the gelding likely to begin his ascent towards The Everest from early September.