SENTrack’s Cam Luke believes I Wish I Win will return to the winning stalls this Saturday in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained sprinter returned to the races first-up this preparation in the T J Smith on a bottomless Randwick track where he ran third before a three-week freshen-up saw the Waikato-owned galloper head north to Queensland for a tilt at the Winter Carnival.
He looked to have all the favours in the Doomben 10,000 a fortnight ago when he ran second behind multiple Group 1 winning mare Bella Nipotina and Cam Luke believes that run will have him cherry-ripe come Saturday.
“There are a few that are questioning I Wish I Win’s credentials to win this weekend,” Luke explained.
“He won the T J Smith, he clearly has issues where Moody and Katherine Coleman have to manage him.
“Since the T J, he ran in the Memsie Stakes where he lost to the best 1400m horse in this country in Mr Brightside, he then went to the Everest where it was universally agreed that barrier one was not at all helpful and he lost to Think About it who everyone was talking to be a superstar who had a remarkable 2023.
“He was tipped out and then came back in the T J and was beaten by Chains Of Lightning and Bella Nipotina in a Group 1 and Imperatriz ran fourth in that race.
“I’m not unsubscribing to the theory that horses struggle to win but you’ve got to be logical about this horse is running into the best horses in the big races.
“Last start in the Doomben 10,000, he had every opportunity and was beaten by Group 1 winning mare Bella Nipotina by a lip.”
I Wish I Win opened up at around $4.50 in the market and has been met with heavy support in the days following.
Cam Luke says I Wish I Win will win on the weekend and will then be snapped up with an Everest slot not long after.
“I’m on him at $4, I’m on him at $3.60 and he will belt them this week in the Kingsford-Smith,” Luke added.
“This is what will happen, he’ll win this and next week he’ll have an Everest slot and will probably be the favourite.”
With James McDonald to ride in Japan on Saturday, regular rider Luke Nolen will return to the saddle on Saturday at Eagle Farm.
I Wish I Win is the current $3.30 favourite in the 1300m feature.
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