Trainers Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman will leave a little in the tank of I Wish I Win as he heads to his final lead-up race before his Grand Final in Sydney.
After an eye-catching first-up fifth in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) on September 7, I Wish I Win returns to Moonee Valley on Friday night for the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m).
It will then be a further three weeks to The Everest (1200m) at Randwick which has been I Wish I Win’s target since wintering in Queensland after a Group 1 win at Eagle Farm in June.
I Wish I Win finished second in The Everest last year after being strung up in traffic after drawing barrier one.
Coleman, who also dabbles as I Wish I Win’s occasional work rider, said the gelding had made improvement from his first-up assignment with added improvement to come.
“He seems to have taken really good fitness from that first-up run which is what we wanted to see,” Coleman said.
“He’s an easy horse to ride and I know him better than the back of my hand these days, so it’s pretty special to have that connection with him as well.”
I Wish I Win was one of the first horses picked up for this year’s $20 million Everest in a deal done with Trackside Media which is owned by the New Zealand TAB and Entain in partnership.
Coleman said I Wish I Win’s first-up outing was essentially the gelding’s second trial leading into Friday night’s contest.
What Coleman and Moody want to see from I Wish I Win on Friday night is a similar performance to the one he posted first-up, where he is running through the line and building his fitness.
“He’s got to improve a little from his first-up run, but the way that he was through the line, it gives you every indication that he will,” Coleman said.
“As for The Everest, it’s a race that can change complexion right up to the very last minute, so all we can do is focus on our horse and have him in the best shape we can.”
Friday night’s Group 1 sprint has attracted 16 nominations, including impressive three-year-olds Growing Empire, Coleman and Hayasugi, Sydney visitors Caballus and Kimochi and Adelaide vistor Sghirippa.
Moody and Coleman have also entered Chain Of Lightning on Friday night, but a start for her will be dependent on the weather.
“She needs a track with some give, so wherever we go, we’ll need a shower of rain,” Coleman said.