Nolen confirmed for Everest on Wishy
Luke Nolen has been confirmed to partner I Wish I Win (Savabeel) in the A$20 million The Everest at Royal Randwick.
On Saturday week, they will bid to go one better in the world’s richest race on turf following their luckless runner-up finish 12 months ago.
Nolen has shared the riding duties on the Waikato Stud-bred six-year-old through 2024 with James McDonald but has been on board the son of Savabeel’s two most recent runs when fifth in the G1 Moir Stakes and third in the G1 Manikato Stakes.
“Luke has ridden Wish to absolute precision in his two starts in Melbourne,” said co-trainer Peter Moody, who races the six-year-old with the Matamata nursery.
“After last year’s unlucky second, Luke is as hungry as we are to get the job done in this year’s Everest.”
After drawing the unsuitable barrier draw of one in 2023, the gelding was denied clear room until too late in the straight powered home to run the winner Think About It to a long neck.
I Wish I Win will again be running in the slot held by Trackside Media, the broadcasting arm of Entain Australia and New Zealand who also operate the New Zealand TAB.
Ardrossan’s Group 1-placed darling wins A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes
Second and fourth in 1600m Group 1 races in her two previous starts since being purchased privately by OTI Racing and stepping out in Australia under Chris Waller’s racing banner, De Armas (Ardrossan) stepped up in distance at Flemington on Saturday and opened her Australian account in style in the A$300,000 Gr.2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day.
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The Corner with Garry Chittick
The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.
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