Peter Moody fears a lack of recent match practice could come against defending titleholder I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) when he resumes against a crack field of race-fit sprinters in the Gr.1 T J Smith Stakes at Randwick.
A forecast for drenching rain in Sydney has many expecting a heavy track on Saturday and while I Wish I Win handles those conditions, Moody says tackling them fresh from a break is a different kettle of fish.
“He has handled the wet at Randwick, but that’s probably more taxing first-up than anything,” Moody said.
“Being realistic, you’ve got a horse first-up off a long break that is probably going to find wet ground, and his opposition is probably going to go there a fair bit fitter.
“I’m not kidding myself thinking we’re going there and just winning or anything like that, but he is forward enough to go and run well.”
I Wish I Win defeated Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) to win the corresponding race last year on a heavy 9 surface, but he arrived third-up from a spell following placings in the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap.
This year he returns from a six-month break, having not raced since his brilliant half-length second to Think About It (So You Think) in The Everest in October.
With regular rider Luke Nolen still recovering from injuries suffered in a trackwork fall in January, James Mcdonald takes over the reins aboard I Wish I Win, who has eased to $4.40 with bookmakers, behind $3.20 favourite Imperatriz (I Am Invincible).
Moody also reported to stewards that I Wish I Win had undergone minor surgery to remove a bone chip in his right knee since his Everest run.
