Australia: I Wish I Win, In Secret co-favored in Newmarket Handicap at Flemington

A sharp closing rally has made the New Zealand-bred gelding I Wish I Win a multiple stakes winner in Australia, and the runner to fear in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap at six furlongs at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Friday evening.

A winner of 5 of 14 starts in New Zealand and Australia, I Wish I Win should be able to handle a field with 15 rivals in the Newmarket Handicap. He won the $6.48 million Golden Eagle Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens last October as part of a field of 20.

In the $987,400 Newmarket Handicap, run on a straightaway course, I Wish I Win will break from post 10 under regular rider Luke Nolen. In his lone start this year, I Wish I Win closed from last in a field of 10 to finish second in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at five furlongs at Flemington, missing by slightly less than a half-length to the multiple Group 1 winner Coolangatta.

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Trained by Peter Moody, I Wish I Win will carry 124.5 pounds, slightly less than topweight Private Eye at 127.8, but much more than the 3-year-old filly In Secret at 113.5.

In early betting on Thursday, I Wish I Win and In Secret were the 7-2 co-favorites.

In Secret will be ridden by Jamie Kah, who was aboard I Wish I Win for a victory in a seven-furlong handicap at Caulfield Racecourse last August.

In Secret has won 5 of 8 starts. She won the fourth stakes of her career in her 2023 debut in the Lightfinger Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Randwick on Feb. 11, and was third by a short head in the Group 1 Surround Stakes at seven furlongs at Randwick on Feb. 25.

This is In Secret’s first start outside of her age group. She starts from post 8 and is likely to race from a tracking position.

* The leading race at Rosehill Gardens on Friday evening is the Group 1 Coolmore Classic at 7 1/2 furlongs, which is worth $395,000 and drew a field of 16.

Annavisto, the winner of the Group 3 Tressady Stakes at seven furlongs at Flemington for the second consecutive year on Feb. 18, was the 9-2 favorite in early betting as of Thursday, a slight choice over Hinged, Hope In Your Heart, and Ruthless Dame, all at 7-1.

Rosehill Gardens has a 10-race program beginning at 8:20 pm. Eastern or 5:20 p.m. Pacific. Flemington’s nine-race program beginning at 8:35 p.m. Eastern. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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