Last year’s runner-up I Wish I Win will contest the 2024 The Everest as part of the slot owned by Trackside Media/Entain for the second consecutive year.
Entain Australia and New Zealand, who also operate the New Zealand, TAB confirmed the news on Wednesday, two and half months out form the $20 million race at Randwick on October 19.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained sprinter was bred and is owned by iconic New Zealand stud Waikato Stud and was only narrowly beaten by Think About It in the 2023 edition.
Entain Australia and New Zealand, Managing Director – New Zealand, Cameron Rodger, said the interest in The Everest had grown substantially in New Zealand with I Wish I Win’s participation.
“Turnover on The Everest doubled from 2022 to 2023, with turnover on the race easily setting a new record, while the number of customers engaged on the race was also twice that of 2022,” Rodger said.
“Turnover on the entire Everest meeting at Randwick also saw a massive increase, up more than 57 percent on the previous year.
“This momentum has continued since then, and The Everest is now a race clearly marked on the calendar of all New Zealand racing fans.”
I Wish I Win, a winner of seven of his 21 starts, is currently the clear favourite for the race.
“We’re delighted to be involved with Wish again, together with the team at Waikato Stud and Moody Coleman Racing,” Rodger said.
“His win in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup in Brisbane last month showed us he’s going to be perfectly primed to climb the Randwick mountain in October and we’re sure he’s going to have plenty of Kiwi fans cheering him on too.”
Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick said a second chance at The Everest with Trackside Media was too good to ignore.
“Wish has given us one hell of a ride from life as a foal through to performing at the elite level. Joining forces again with the Trackside Media team to put things right sets the scene nicely for 19 October,” he said.
“I’ve seen plenty of racing fans around the country wearing the I Wish I Win caps from last year’s quest, and I have no doubt New Zealand will get behind him again.”
I Wish I win is expected to have two runs into The Everest, with a kick-off in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley in early September a possibility.
