3 minute read
Luke Nolen is not afraid of barrier one.
In an ideal world it's not the gate he would have picked for I Wish I Win's bid to claim another big Sydney feature in Saturday's $20m TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick but says there's no reason to fear it.
The Golden Eagle and TJ Smith winner's co-trainer Peter Moody, who prepares with Katherine Coleman, wanted to draw middle to out in the Everest but Luke Nolen said he'll deal with what unfolds in front of him as it happens.
He does point out that in Black Caviar's final start, the TJ Smith Stakes over the Everest course, the champion drew barrier one and was able to offset it.
He also points out, of course, that I Wish I Win is not Black Caviar.
"I can only control my narrative, he's done everything right,'' Nolen said.
"He looks a million bucks and he has a real sense of timing about him. We drew one in the Memsie and was three back and we sliced through really well, if we get even luck it won't be a hindrance.
"I won a TJ on Black Caviar from gate one, that was a bad spot for a horse like her too. It was a bit different, it was autumn, but Pete wanted me down the middle of the track in the better ground.
"We got there from that gate with her, she was a bit more robust than this bloke. But if he's presented his opportunity he will give a good account of himself."
I Wish I Win was a rare market drifter after drawing what is usually a coveted barrier and was $5.50 with TAB on Thursday.
He's following a similar program to one that almost saw Vega Magic win the inaugural Everest in 2017 and Nolen said that path was heavily discussed based on what he and Moody learned in the lead up to last year's Golden Eagle.
"I talked to Pete when he decided to go that way and we went through it. I wanted to go 1000m, 1200m, 1200m but there were no suitable options.
"What we learned in his first campaign was his Toorak run was really flat, on a 13 day back up, and he appreciates the extra week.
"There was no suitable option three weeks out from the (Everest) at any distance."
So Moody elected to kick off the preparation in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), Vega Magic won that race in 2017 and went on to be an unlucky second in the Everest, and he loomed up to win the race but couldn't deny Mr Brightside.
Since that race I Wish I Win has had a race day exhibition gallop and Moody posted on social media this week that he was happy with the gelding's final work on Tuesday.
"He didn't think he'd have to have him that screwed down to run seven furlongs first-up at Caulfield. I think it was the right decision,'' Nolen said.
"We've seen Mr Brightside frank that form and he had a run under his belt when we took him on.
"I came off his back and I thought I was the winner, he keeps finding the other horse but we just peaked.
"It suited the horse best and Pete has trained this horse to be peaking on Saturday and everything has fallen into place beside the barrier draw."
Nolen said ideally there's some pressure applied to the likely leader Overpass to open up the field and allow him the galloping room I Wish I Win thrives on.
"With his racing style he's going to need a bit of luck, he does like a bit of open air like so many horses with devastating turns of foot,'' he said.
"There doesn't look to be a heap of tempo in it but you put on $20 million you're probably going to get some tempo. If it breaks the field up a bit it would make my job a bit easier."
