Dream win boosts Toorak prospects

I Wish I Win remained unbeaten on Australian soil following another stirring display to claim the Listed Testa Rossa S. on the Hillside track at Sandown on Sunday afternoon.

The Waikato Stud-bred and raced four-year-old had been an impressive winner at Caulfield last month in his first start for Peter Moody, who also shares in the ownership, and was then unable to beat the ballot for a start in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S.

The Testa Rossa became his next port of call and the son of Savabeel impressively overcame an interrupted run to put himself back into Group 1 contention.

“It was a great win and he was really tough through the line,” stable representative Catherine Coleman said.

“We will head toward the G1 Toorak H. now and he should get a few more rating points, this win will boost him up a little bit.

“If we can give him a crack at the Toorak, they will all know he’s there.”

I Wish I Win started at less than even money at Sandown and everything went to plan until the field straightened for home.

The gelding had settled third last before improving near the corner and was then held up 300 metres from home, but once into the clear he quickly lengthened stride to put his rivals away.

“I knew I was on the best horse in the race and I was confident,” rider Luke Nolen said.

“Patience is a virtue and he put paid to them, he feels like an elite horse.”

The four-year-old began his career with former Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards and was a dual winner and also finished runner-up in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. and third in last season’s G1 Levin Classic.

I Wish I Win, who was never sales-bound as a youngster due to conformation issues, is a half-brother to G3 Premier’s Cup winner Another Dollar with their dam the Pins mare Make A Wish, who delivered an Ocean Park colt last year and is shortly due to foal to Super Seth.

Make A Wish is a half-sister to the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas runner-up Ambitious, who produced the G3 Gloaming S. winner and G1 Australian Guineas second Strike The Stars.

She is out of the dual G3 winner and G1 place getter Starcent and the family of G1 Livamol Classic winner Savvy Yong Blonk.