Trainer Peter Moody plots 2024 The Everest revenge with star sprinter I Wish I Win
Trainer Peter Moody has meticulously masterminded I Wish I Win’s revenge mission as the sprinter chases racing history in the Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
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Trainer Peter Moody has meticulously masterminded I Wish I Win’s revenge mission as the sprinter chases racing history in the Group 1 $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Moody maintains I Wish I Win is “going as well as last year” when he was narrowly beaten in The Everest after enduring a luckless run.
I Wish I Win has had two lead-up races into The Everest, a point in his preparation where the six-year-old is invariably at his best, and blinkers go back on for the big race.
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Moody, who trains in partnership with Katherine Coleman, has even kept I Wish I Win “out of sight, out of mind” with all the gelding’s races and preparatory work being done in Victoria this spring.
If I Wish I Win completes the coup before about 50,000 race fans at Royal Randwick, he will be the first horse to win the nation’s two richest races, the Golden Eagle (2022) and The Everest.
“I know with I Wish I Win, this horse never runs a bad race, he’s very consistent,’’ Moody said.
“You could say that about a few of them like Bella Nipotina, so we just have to be fast enough!
“The horse is in very good order. He had his last piece of work Tuesday morning and did everything nicely.
“He is going as well as he was last year, it’s just a matter of whether that is good enough to win.’’
• The special bond that led Jamie Kah to her first The Everest
I Wish I Win drew an inside barrier in The Everest 12 months ago and was momentarily held up for a run in the straight then just missed reeling in Think About It.
Moody has altered slightly the preparation of what so nearly worked for them last year in an endeavour to go one better in the world’s richest turf race.
I Wish I Win’s two starts this spring were on the tight The Valley circuit with the gelding finishing fifth in the Moir Stakes then third in the Manikato Stakes.
“The two lead-up runs were perfect, just at the wrong establishment,’’ Moody said.
“In hindsight, maybe I could have done what I did last year and run him in the Caulfield 1400m race (Memsie Stakes) then have six weeks to The Everest but I’m satisfied he has had the right preparation this year.
“We will put the blinkers back on Saturday, he had them on when he won the Kingsford-Smith Cup. I don’t think they make a mammoth difference but I’m just covering all bases.’’
• EXPERT TIPS: James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Everest Day
The Randwick track received 2mm of rain on Friday morning but has improved to a soft 5 for The Everest, which Moody said is “perfect ground for us.’’
I Wish I Win has been the long-time Everest favourite until earlier this week when he was joined at $6 by Joliestar after she drew well in barrier four.
But TAB’s Tim Ryan said I Wish I Win, who comes out of barrier nine, has firmed back into $5.50 favouritism.
“The way it’s trending it’s looking like I Wish I Win will definitely start favourite,” Ryan said on Friday.
“He’s twice as popular as Joliestar so he’s back into $5.50, but it’s such an open race and I’ve got it by far the most open TAB Everest in the race’s history.
“Joliestar is holding OK at $6 but I’m expecting there to be a flood of money for her on Saturday with the James McDonald factor and overseas interest.’’
• ‘There is a little bit of nerves’: Waller keyed up for The Everest tilt with Joliestar
Ryan revealed Growing Empire had been little bit “soft” and had eased from $7 out to $8, while Traffic Warden was back into $8 after a “flood of money” for the colt on Friday.
“Bella Nipotina found her mark at $9 and she’s back into $8.50, while the money has continued for Sunshine In Paris, she’s been one of the better-backed runners, so she’s $11 into $9 now,’’ he said.
“I Am Me has been well backed at $15 but I feel like that’s her price and she can’t be too much shorter than that.”
The Everest’s Group 1 status was official ratified by the International Grading and Racing Planning Advisory Committee on Friday.
• Ray & Duff’s The Everest runner-by-runner guide
TAB BIG BETS ON THE EVEREST
I Wish I Win $7000 at $6
Growing Empire $6800 at $8
Traffic Warden $5000 at $8.50
I Wish I Win $4300 at $2.20 place bet
Growing Empire $5000 at $2.50 place bet
Sunshine In Paris $2000 at $11
Traffic Warden $2000 at $8
Stefi Magnetica $2000 each-way at $13/$4
Joliestar $2000 at $6
Originally published as Trainer Peter Moody plots 2024 The Everest revenge with star sprinter I Wish I Win
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