Wish I Win however. As a foal he was born with confirmation issues, with severely front legs, but the fine care and close management of the horse has seen those issues not factor into his overall performance. “It’s been well publicised he’s had some confirmation issues with some pretty crooked, bent front legs. “But luckily due to the care he received from the team at Waikato Stud, he’s quite sound now as an older horse. “We obviously manage him very well and we do like to space his runs and look after him where we can, but really he’s very sound given that was his start to life.” While I Wish I Win’s two greatest wins have come in Sydney, Katherine Coleman is looking forward to the opportunity of possibly sharing a big race win with co-trainer Peter Moody if they are successful on Friday night. “With these big races, a couple of them being in Sydney, Pete’s been on course, and I’ve been back here in Melbourne. “So being able to have him run at The Valley is special, because obviously we can both be there on course. “We stood there and watched the Moir together and I’m sure we’ll probably be parked up in the same spot come Manikato night. The sprinting program shifted forward this spring at The Valley, with the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes run on AFL Grand Final Eve, brought forward one month from Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day. The move has allowed Melbourne horses looking to target The Everest another chance to win a Group 1 before they venture north of the border, which has seen an increase in both field size and quality. “This year it’s worked out really well for us, with the way The Valley has structured the sprint races. “Last year we didn’t have an ideal lead up race for him three weeks out from The Everest, and he really enjoys that three week break between runs. “So we had to get a little bit creative last year. We ran him in the Memsie, and then three weeks after that he had an exhibition gallop at Caulfield.” I Wish I Win has drawn barrier 12 of 13 for Friday night’s feature, but after running the fastest late sectionals in the Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes, he’s ready to let fly up to 1200 metres and will no doubt be finishing off hard down the centre of the track again.
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