A more suitable preparation has I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) co-trainer Peter Moody eagerly looking forward to his elite sprinter’s second shot at The Everest this Saturday in Sydney.
I Wish I Win was beaten narrowly into second place in the race 12 months ago, but Moody explained in an interview with Southside Racing that the horse has enjoyed a strong lead-up this year to the A$20 million race after coming in in 2023.
“The races were run to suit better this year,” Moody said. “He was able to run in the Moir (1000m) and then he went three weeks into the Manikato (1200m) as his final lead-in and last year we didn’t have those options.
“He’s a horse that likes a 21-day break between races as he gets a few aches and pains when he has a hit-out. So that extra week enables him to get right over the race.
“Last year, we went off six weeks from the Memsie (1400m) to The Everest and we failed by a head, so if we can find a head this year, we’ll be right in the mix.
“Whether the preparation has made a significant difference, I don’t know, but I probably haven’t had to train him as hard and just allow him to race himself into condition and he’s thrived on that.
“I thought he worked very nice. He had a hit-out on the course proper. He strode out nicely, his action was good and he seemed to pull up very well.
“We’ve had a good preparation heading to The Everest on Saturday. We’ve been able to do all our work at home. He’s had two lead-in runs – without winning admittedly – but I thought he ran well on both occasions.”
I Wish I Win will be ridden by Luke Nolen and is The Everest’s current $5.50 favourite.
