Australia: I Wish I Win preps for Everest in Manikato Stakes
From one big-ticket race to another, I Wish I Win may have a lucrative schedule in coming weeks in Australia.
I Wish I Win is part of a field of 13 in Friday’s Group 1 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, a six-furlong race with a purse of $1.37 million. The race is a prep for the $13.7 million Everest Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Oct. 19.
I Wish I Win was second in the 2023 Everest Stakes, the world’s richest sprint.
Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, I Wish I Win has won 7 of 22 starts. A 6-year-old New Zealand-bred gelding, I Wish I Win was a good fifth in the Group 1 Moir Stakes at five furlongs on Sept. 7 at Moonee Valley, closing from eighth through the track’s short stretch to lose by slightly more than a length to Mornington Glory.
The Moir Stakes was I Wish I Win’s first start since a win in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at six furlongs at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane in June.
In the Manikato, jockey Luke Nolen is booked to ride I Wish I Win, who starts from post 12. In early betting Wednesday, I Wish I Win was the 4-1 second choice behind Growing Empire at 7-2.
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Growing Empire, a Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old, has won 4 of 5 starts and will race against older horses for the first time in the Manikato. Trained by Ciaron Maher, Growing Empire is considered a hopeful for the Everest Stakes. He rates favorably for the Manikato since his forward style should be effective through the track’s 190-yard stretch.
The 3-year-old filly Hayasugi is rated as a contender from off the pace. Hayasugi closed from seventh to finish a half-length behind Mornington Glory in the Moir, her first start against older horses. The Moir was Hayasugi’s first start since a last-place finish of 16 in the Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds last March.
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