Under-rated sprinter I Am Me has claimed several high-profile scalps to score a brilliant first-up win in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick, putting herself in the frame for an Everest slot.
The Ciaron Maher-trained mare, who started at $4.80, denied evergreen stablemate Bella Nipotina ($4.40) by a half-neck in Saturday’s 1000-metre sprint with Way To The Stars ($61) running the race of his life for third another two lengths away.
Finishing in their wake were last year’s Everest placegetter Private Eye (fourth) and 2022 Everest hero Giga Kick (fifth), their respective trainers both satisfied with their horse’s performances.
Johann Gerard-Dubord, representing the Maher stable, said I Am Me had matured again this preparation after racing competitively at the highest level at her past two campaigns, while Bella Nipotina all but firmed up her place in The Everest (1200m).
“Bella Nipotina, the Everest will definitely be the target. I Am Me, we probably have to consider it now,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“She has come a long way and she has improved every prep.
“She loves these conditions, these fast tracks and she has got a very good record first-up. The gate helped and it was a very good ride from Nash (Rawiller).”
Rawiller was taken by the fight I Am Me showed once she bounded to the front, admitting he did fear her stablemate would run them down.
“She was amazing, wasn’t she? 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,” Rawiller said.
“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.”
Three horses have claimed the Concorde Stakes (1000m)-Everest (1200m) double, Redzel twice in 2017-18 and Nature Strip three years ago.
Joe Pride was pleased with the return of Private Eye, who he felt raced on the inferior part of the track towards the outside.
“He has had to chase from a long way out, which is difficult, so has run really well,” Pride said.
“He will go to The Shorts then straight into the Everest at this stage.”
Giga Kick’s trainer Clayton Douglas felt his charge did enough at what was his first run in 12 months.
“First-up with the big weight over 1000 metres, he has run well but we have bigger fish to fry,” Douglas said.
“As long as he comes through the race well today, we will go to the Premiere (Stakes).”