Underrated I Am Me to press 2024 The Everest credentials in The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday

I Am Me, the brilliant mare stablemate Bella Nipotina has never beaten, gets another chance to press her claims for the $20 million The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

I Am Me (second from left) bursts clear to win the Concorde Stakes at Randwick on September 7. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

I Am Me, the brilliant mare stablemate Bella Nipotina has never beaten, gets another chance to press her claims for the $20 million The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Ciaron Maher has entered I Am Me for the Group 2 $1 million The Shorts (1100m).

The talented I Am Me, raced by Dean Watt’s Dynamic Syndications, is coming off a last-start win in the Concorde Stakes in which she held off the fast-finishing Bella Nipotina.

• Maher secures first The Everest runner as TAB selects Bella Nipotina

Earlier this week, slot-holder TAB selected Bella Nipotina for The Everest and Maher is aiming to also get I Am Me into the world’s richest turf race.

“I Am Me is definitely a chance to go to The Everest,’’ Maher said.

“She will go to The Shorts and possibly the Premiere (Stakes). She did a piece of work on Monday and seems to be in great order.

“I think she should run up to form and be a super chance on Saturday.’’

Maher conceded I Am Me had “slightly the better run than Bella Nipotina” in the Concorde Stakes.

“But there has never been much between these two mares,’’ the champion trainer added. “I think they have raced three times and I Am Me has beaten her home every time.’’

Maher accepted only with I Am Me for The Shorts after also nominating Bella Nipotina and Estriella.

Bella Nipotina will have her final Everest lead-up in the Group 2 $1 million Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 5 while Estriella is being saved for the Group 1 $2 million Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on September 27.

Gavin Bedggood wins his first Group 1 as Mornington Glory takes out the Moir Stakes 🔥 @[e-mail]/piQAlg2MvM

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 7, 2024

• From the bush to The Everest: Bjorn Baker duo’s remarkable climb

“Estriella had a bit of a tough run in the Moir (Stakes),’’ Maher said of the speedy mare’s fourth placing behind Mornington Glory.

“She had to work the whole race and was beaten 0.8 (lengths). I think she will improve a lot from her first-up run.

“She will go to the Manikato and then the plan is still firmly The Everest.’’

Maher also has boom three-year-old Growing Empire in The Everest conversation after his outstanding wins in the McNeil Stakes and Poseidon Stakes to start his three-year-old season.

Leading them down the #Flemington straight!

Growing Empire takes out the @WinningEdgeTeam Poseidon Stakes 🔥@7horseracingpic.twitter.com/vpmsXMjaU2

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) September 14, 2024

• Growing Empire doing exactly that for Yulong Farm

Growing Empire, who is raced by Yulong, is by super sire Zoustar and the immediate aim is to try and win a Group 1 race with the Manikato Stakes next week a possible target.

“Being a colt, the idea is if we went to the Manikato and he was successful there and ticked off his Group 1, you could well see him in The Everest,’’ Maher said.

“Every time he races he seems to be winning with a little bit in hand. He’s a very progressive three-year-old colt.

“The original plan was going to be the Poseidon Stakes and Danehill Stakes and then have a crack at the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

“But the way he has won his last two (starts), a Group 1 is everything for these colts.’’

Originally published as Underrated I Am Me to press 2024 The Everest credentials in The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday