The Savabeel gelding I Wish I Win has a distinct liking for Sydney, taking a pot load of cash back across the southern border and across the Tasman.
The winner of the $10,000,000 Golden Eagle at Rosehill last October, the Waikato Stud colour-bearer earned a richly deserved Group 1 success in the $3,000,000 Furphy T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Ridden by Luke Nolen for Peter Moody, I Wish I Win came with a barnstorming finish to defeat fellow Victorian, the Everest hero Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) by a half-length with the honest Maurice (JPN) gelding Mazu three-quarters of a length back in third ahead of the champion Nature Strip.
Placed at his last two starts in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning and Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, I Wish I Win advances his record to six wins, five seconds, and three thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $7,760,553.
“That was special, his third run in he’s probably peaked today,” Moody said.
“I laid down at 10.30am this morning and the track was a Good 4, I was a very happy man. Got up at 12.15pm, it was a Heavy 8 and I didn’t want to come to the races.
“Luke used the rest of the field for as long as he could. You could always see him coming, I’m very proud of him, he’s a bloody good horse.
“I said this ten years ago and probably 12 years ago, it’s always special winning this race because as a 15-year-old I arrived in Bowral street Kensington at the master’s stables, TJ Smith. I think I’ve won it three times now, twice with the obvious (Black Caviar) and now this so it’s always a special race to win. Very appreciative of it.
“Me little mate Trumby (Luke) Nolen, we’ve both hit a few dry creeks along the way. But it’s always nice to bounce back on a nice green track at Randwick.”
Previously trained by the now Hong Kong-based Jamie Richards, I Wish I Win was Group 1-placed in New Zealand at two and three. He transferred to the Pakenham stable of part-owner Peter Moody for his four-year-old season.
I Wish I Win is out of the Pins mare Make A Wish, whose five winners from seven foals to race also include the hard-knocking mare Another Dollar. That daughter of Ocean Park won five races including the Group III Premier’s Cup (2200m) and Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2000m), while her seven black-type placings included a second in the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).
Yulong purchased Another Dollar for $700,000 at the 2020 National Broodmare Sale.
Moody Racing had the final say at $375,000 for a brother to Another Dollar and half to I Wish I Win offered by Waikato Stud at the Karaka.
Sadly, Make a Wish died and her final foal is a weanling filly by Super Seth.
I Wish I Win is the 30th Group 1 winner for Waikato Stud’s amazing Savabeel.
