Eva Air Kingsford Smith Cup (Group 1)

CO-trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, and the owners of I Wish I Win have been rewarded for their horse’s consistency with victory in last Saturday’s Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup over 1,300 metres at Eagle Farm.

Placed in all of his eight starts since the start of 2023, I Wish I Win, in that time, has contested seven Group 1 races as well as running second in the A$20 million Everest last October.

This was his second Group 1 win, with Luke Nolan aboard for both, though he missed his last start second in the Doomben 10,000.

By Savabeel, I Wish I Win defeated the Pride Of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina, with the I Am Invincible filly In Secret third.

“I knew we could finish over him but with two weeks between runs he’s never as dynamic. He was probably more tradesman-like today. Softer ground, too,” said Nolan. “On top of the ground they wouldn’t have seen which way he went.”

I Wish I Win will now likely head for a spell before the spring with Coleman indicating; “Another shot at The Everest is the plan.”

Warmonger romps to Derby win

Ladbrokes Queensland Derby (Group 1)

FRESH off a second placing in the South Australian Derby to the filly Coco Sun, the Mick Price and Michael Kent-trained Warmonger has gone one better to claim Saturday’s Group 1 Queensland Derby over 2,400 metres at Eagle Farm.

Sweeping to the lead at the top of the straight, the War Decree gelding thrived in the soft conditions, increasing his advantage at every stride to run away with a 10-length win. Second was the Almanzor filly Moonlight Magic with the Mendelssohn gelding Felix The Scat in third.

“What a great run by that horse,” said jockey Blake Shinn. “He did it the tough way but he was comfortable. I just wanted to make sure he kept going on his run. It was a bit of a track gallop for him.

“He enjoyed it. He had his ears pricked down the back. I asked him to extend from the 500 (metre mark) and he just kept building. I made sure he kept going to the line, but the horse really deserved it.”

Yearling

A NZ$75,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka yearling purchase, Warmonger was then put through to the NZB Ready To Run by his buyers Prima Park, where he made $165,000 on Riccarton trainer Shane Kennedy’s bid.

He was sold again to Terry Henderson’s OTI Racing. Warmonger has now won over A$930,000 from nine starts yielding three wins, with this win virtually guaranteeing a start in the Melbourne Cup if connections feel he is up to that level.

THE former Paul Nicholls-trained Irish-bred Bell Ex One has prevailed in a thrilling finish to snare the A$125,000 Australian Steeple run over 3,900 metres at Sandown racetrack on Sunday last.

Ridden by Will Gordon for trainer Andrew Bobbin, the Excelebration gelding, second in the Grand Annual Steeplechase at his previous start, was kept handy in the eight-horse field with Gorden saving his urgency until after the last.

Hurried along in the straight, Bell Ex One gave his supporters a few nervous moments before landing the win by a nose ahead of Riding High, with the Irish-bred Crosshill with Tommy Ryan up running third.

Dream run

“I had a dream run, travelled everywhere and jumped super,” said Gordon on dismounting.

“There was a lovely tempo in the race, I was sort of following the fancied horses. I saw Count Zero (the Grand Annual winner) sort of labouring up the hill, so I got on Willie’s (McCarthy) back (on Riding High) to track him through. The hardest part of my race today was always going to be timing my run.

“He’s tough as nails but he just likes a bit of company. I think if he was a person he’d be slouched over a bar most of the time with a group of people around him, he wouldn’t be doing things on his own,” added Gordon.

“He probably just waits for horses to come around him but look he’s got the job done and he’s got plenty of ability.”

TOMMY Ryan, aboard the French-bred Port Guillaume in Sunday’s A$125,000 Australian Hurdle at Sandown has claimed a fourth win in the race after the Le Havre gelding’s comfortable four-length win.

Tenth in the 2021 Caulfield Cup before an inglorious 21st in that year’s Melbourne Cup, the Hayes training team have persevered with Port Guillaume who won his maiden hurdle in 2022 before landing Sunday’s feature steeple, 2 wins and 17 starts later.

“It’s brilliant, no one knows this horse better than Tommy Ryan, he rides him quite a lot when he’s up at the farm,” said Will Hayes. “It was artwork watching him, he just had him to sleep and built him through his gears. It just makes it that much better.

“You can’t wipe the smile off my face, and I don’t think we’ll wipe the smile off his face for years.”

Hayes indicated a Grand National Steeple aim was likely with Ryan bullish about his chances. “We’ll see how he pulls up, but I don’t see why not off the strength of that run. I do think that the further he goes the better,” added Ryan.

TOM ‘Socks’ Madden had extra incentive to gain his first win at the metropolitan tracks at Caulfield on Saturday as British Angel came through to win the Thoroughbred Club of Australia Handicap for the Tom Dabernig stable.

His mom Trish and sister Sarah Ann had made the trip to Australia and were on track to cheer him on and were interviewed by Racing.com on X.

“Big pressure with family over! This will last long in the memory, alright. It’s been a long time coming, doing the hard yards. I can’t thank Shane Jackson and Lorna, they brought me out here. It’s a dream,” the rider told Racing.com.