Crack sprinter Everest bound again

Savabeel’s star sprinting son I Wish I Win has been locked in for a second crack at the A$20 million The Everest at Randwick.

The Waikato Stud-bred went agonisingly close to winning the 2023 edition of the world’s richest race on turf when runner-up and will bid to go one better on October19.

As he did last year, I Wish I Win will again run for Trackside Media, the broadcasting arm of Entain Australia and New Zealand who also operate the New Zealand TAB.

Entain Australia and New Zealand, Managing Director – New Zealand, Cameron Rodger, said the results from last year spoke for themselves, as New Zealanders embraced the race like never before.

“Turnover on The Everest doubled from 2022 to 2023, with turnover on the race easily setting a new record, while the number of customers engaged on the race was also twice that of 2022.

“We’re delighted to be involved with Wish again, together with the team at Waikato Stud and Moody Coleman Racing. 

“His win in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup in Brisbane last month showed us he’s going to be perfectly primed to climb the Randwick mountain in October and we’re sure he’s going to have plenty of Kiwi fans cheering him on too.”

I Wish I Win’s breeder and part-owner Mark Chittick said the opportunity to combine with Trackside Media for The Everest in 2024 is the perfect approach for this year’s edition.

“Wish has given us one hell of a ride from life as a foal through to performing at the elite level. Joining forces again with the Trackside Media team to put things right sets the scene nicely for October 19.

“I’ve seen plenty of racing fans around the country wearing the I Wish I Win caps from last year’s quest, and I have no doubt New Zealand will get behind him again.”

Fellow owner Peter Moody, who trains I Wish I Win with training partner Katherine Coleman, is relishing the chance for another crack at The Everest.

“We’re fired up about re-joining the journey with Trackside Media. I’ve been affiliated with Entain for a long time, and that relationship was only made stronger with the terrific experience we had last year,” he said.

“We went so close in 2023, and I am hopeful that we can go one better in just under three months.”