Inside alley, again, for I Wish I Win

[Wandering Eyes]

Luke Nolen this weekend runs the risk of being presented with the same issues that confronted James Mcdonald in the Doomben 10,000 after Tuesday morning’s Kingsford Smith Cup barrier draw.

The Victorian jockey goes back aboard I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel), who will start from the inside alley in the A$1 million Group One event at Eagle Farm.

That is the gate I Wish I Win started from when a narrow second, after being run down by Bella Nipotina (Pride of Dubai), in the Gr.1 Doomben 10,000.

The opportunity for Nolen to reclaim the ride aboard I Wish I Win presented when James McDonald, who has ridden him at his past two starts, was unavailable due to commitments in Japan.

It is the fourth time from his past five starts that I Wish I Win has drawn the inside alley with Nolen having partnered him into third position in the Memsie Stakes and second in The Everest at his only starts last spring.

Katherine Coleman, who trains I Wish I Win in partnership with Peter Moody, would have preferred to have seen him drawn a little further off the fence but is happy with the way he has come through the 1200m Doomben 10,000.

“He worked on Saturday morning and all reports were very positive, the jockey was very happy with him, it was nice work and his action felt good, which is pleasing going towards this week,” Coleman said.

I Wish I Win will start alongside Bella Nipotina, who has drawn gate two, while other key contenders in the 12-horse event include defending champion Think About It (So You Think) (eight), dual Group One winners Magic Time (Hellbent) (nine) and In Secret (I Am Invincible) (four) and local star Antino (NZ) (Redwood) (12).

It will be the first time I Wish I Win has run off a two-week break since the Toorak Handicap in the spring of 2022, when he was unplaced as a $2.20 favourite, but Coleman is happy with his condition and said he would spell after the Kingsford Smith Cup.

“It’s a little bit a difference, but he’s been so lightly raced that I don’t think it will be a problem,” Coleman said of the five-year-old.

“He still seems well and happy within himself and this option gave him that little bit of a longer break between having to come back and get ready for the spring.”

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