He has a casual attitude and was a deformed foal, but as a sprinter, an enormous motor exists

As a foal with deformed legs he was shoved in a back paddock so the staff didn't have to look at him, but from humble beginnings in Waikato, I Wish I Win turned into a world class sprinter. When Make A Wish foaled another Savabeel colt, it drew gasps from those watching. A near foreleg pointing outwards at a fairly grotesque angle, of around 20 degrees was a disturbing sight. As the weeks went by, this one didn’t straighten out, meaning some plans would have to be made. Four years on, the foal with the almost comical limb is the star Australian-based sprinter I Wish I Win, winner of seven from 21 with just two unplaced runs, the imperious victor of five Australian starts since crossing to the Peter Moody stables. He amassed over $10 million in only 12 months, earnings more then Moody-trained Black Caviar did in her entire career.

Needless to say, breeder Mark Chittick kept the colt – what sales house would have taken him? And he and his new trainer, (who took up a slice of the ownership) are now counting their good fortune. It was certainly a surprise you didn’t want though. In breeding I Wish I Win tapped a powerful nick, with Pins mares now having brought Savabeel 16 stakes winners, chief among them the outstanding Probabeel. I Wish I Win’s granddam Starcent (Centaine) won twice at Gr.3 and once at Listed level, and is the third dam of another fine drop from the Savabeel-Pins blend Gr.1 Livamol Classic winner Savy Yong Blonk. Third dam Star Of The Knight won the Gr.2 Queensland Sires’ and Gr.3 Queensland Guineas in the early 1980s, and as a daughter of Sir Tristram gives I Wish I Win a gender-balanced of legendary stallion, Zabeel. The first class pedigree is strong in this one.

I Wish I Win was intially sent to Te Akau’s Jamie Richards and won two barrier trials. The colt debuted in an Awapuni two year-old maiden and romped in as a $1.40 favourite. He jumped to Group 1 class as second favourite in the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), and struck a good one in, On The Bubbles. That began four straight stakes placings for the brown speedster, and eventually a close third in the Gr.1 Levin Classic in March behind Imperatriz which sparked his move across the Tasman. Under Peter Moody, a four-length stroll at Caulfield was followed by success in Sandown’s Listed Test Rossa Stakes (1300m). In between, there was that unlucky missed start as an emergency, but the improbable racehorse with the crooked leg continued on towards top level glory.

I Wish I Win then came out and produced a scintillating turn-of-foot to claim his first-ever Group 1 win in the TJ Smith Stakes, from last to first. It was an expertly planned out preparation by trainer Peter Moody who elected to keep him back to the sprinting trips rather than look for middle-distance targets such as the All-Star Mile. I Wish I Win then showed real class by fighting off the talented Fangirl to take the $10 million, Golden Eagle at Rosehill. They then won a slot under TAB Trackside in the $21 million 'The Everest' with the hopes of the entire nation riding on the Kiwi. The ex-pat horse was in the middle of the field from an awkward inside barrier draw as the race settled down, but as they entered the home straight I Wish I Win was stuck against the rails. Jockey Luke Nolen managed to manoeuvre into open space, but by then there was too much ground to make up on the eventual winner, Think About It. He was gallant in defeat and still picked up $3 million of the purse in running second to an up-and-coming, young star of the track.

Resuming in the Autumn of 2024, I Wish I Win would get pipped at the post by Bella Nipotina in the Doomben 10,000 (1200m) with a strange JMac ride that did the horse no favour's. Luke Nolen would regain the ride in the Gr.1 Kingford Smith (1200m) at Eagle Farm and put in a great steer that saw the star galloper power home over the top of Bella Nipotina and defeat a high class field, including Think About It and In Secret. Another tilt at the Everest is surely the teams main target in 2024.

RACE RECORD - 21: 7-7-5

EARNINGS - $11,277,917

1st G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup

2nd G1 Doomben 10,000

2nd The Everest

3rd G1 Memsie Stakes

1st G1 TJ Smith Stakes (twice)

2nd G1 Lightning Stakes

1st Golden Eagle

1st LR Testa Rossa Stakes

3rd G1 Levin Classic

2nd G3 Northland Breeders Stakes

2nd G1 Manawatu Sires Produce