James McDonald declares I Wish I Win improved from TJ Smith ahead of Doomben 10,000 task

The star sprinter produced a huge first-up performance in the TJ Smith Stakes, but the gun jockey says he has only improved as he is set to start a hot favourite in the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday.

James McDonald will ride hot favourite I Wish I Win in the Doomben 10,000 on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng—Getty Images.

Man of the moment James McDonald has declared I Wish I Win an improved horse who will handle any surface ahead of his likely showdown with stablemate Chain Of Lightning in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on Saturday.

The superstar jockey is on a record-breaking Group 1 quest and says it was I Wish I Win’s fitness which brought him undone in the TJ Smith Stakes last month, where he ran third to Chain Of Lightning and Bella Nipotina on a testing Randwick track.

Despite regular jockey Luke Nolen returning from injury, McDonald has kept the ride and the Kiwi is keen to link up with the hulking Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained galloper again in what will be just his second run in 2024.

CHAIN OF LIGHTNING claims Group 1 glory in the TJ SMITH! 🔗 ⚡️

That's the first Group 1 victory for @kscoleman, and gives @moodyracingpgm back to back wins in the race! 👊@LaneDamian | @aus_turf_club | @SkyRacingAU
pic.twitter.com/vhS07aFe8P

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) April 6, 2024

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McDonald said his huge sprint in the TJ Smith even surprised him and has no doubt he has improved from the run.

“He was trialling mediocre I thought before I rode him in the TJ and he did what he did, this time around, he has he won a trial the other day, so that suggests to me that he has come on immensely,” McDonald said.

“He didn’t win the TJ but his run was sensational, first up and on heavy ground.

Chain Of Lightning (inside) beat home Bella Nipotina (middle) and I Wish I Win (outside) in the TJ Smith. Picture: Jeremy Ng—Getty Images.

“He came with a beautiful, big sprint on him, but he just got tired.”

McDonald was at his brilliant best at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, riding four winners with just five rides and confirmed he is likely to be in Brisbane for each of the upcoming Group 1 days.

Other likely runners in the $1.5m feature include Private Eye, Chain Of Lightning, Espiona and Mazu, while Godolphin weigh up whether to run second favourite In Secret.

I Wish I Win was beaten by stablemate Chain Of Lightning in the TJ Smith, but McDonald said it won’t take much to turn the tables come Saturday.

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A rain affected track is likely for Saturday, with consistent downfalls keeping many of the southeast Queensland surfaces in the soft range, however, McDonald holds no concerns, saying his galloper can thrive on all tracks.

“He only has to improve a length and he is right in this,’ McDonald said.

“I’d say he is good on all types of ground, he clearly relishes the wet, but it doesn’t matter what it throws up on the day, he will be getting through it.”

I Wish I Win is a dominant $2.50 favourite for Saturday along with a $4 chance for the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) two weeks later, while he also holds a nomination for the $3m Stradbroke Handicap on June 15, where he is also a $6 joint favourite.

Originally published as James McDonald declares I Wish I Win improved from TJ Smith ahead of Doomben 10,000 task