Melham’s Wish could soon come true in Futurity Stakes

Jamie Melham has been eager to reunite with I Wish I Win ever since their first partnership, and her excitement has only grown after witnessing the gelding's recent performances at the Pakenham jumpouts.

Melham has teamed up with the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained I Wish I Win for two jumpout victories, the most recent one taking place on Tuesday morning, as he prepares to return to the races.

The gelding’s first Australian win, a dominant four-length victory at Caulfield in August 2022, came with the rider then known as Jamie Kah, but she has not had the opportunity to ride him since then.

With regular jockey Luke Nolen still sidelined due to injury, a replacement rider is expected for I Wish I Win’s first-up race, which is likely to be the $750,000 Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 22. Melham was one of the first to express her interest.

“I’m definitely not going to knock him back,” Melham stated.

“Compared to when I rode him at Caulfield, when I didn’t think he was going to do what he has, he’s really stepped up and turned into an absolute superstar.

“All systems seem positive with him.”

I Wish I Win went on to win the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) in 2022, claim the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), and finish second in The Everest the following year. Last year, he secured the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) in Brisbane, all with Nolen aboard.

In Tuesday’s trial, I Wish I Win jumped well and settled a length off the leader, Ostraka, before moving up alongside that horse early in the straight. He cruised alongside for about 400 meters before edging clear late to win by approximately a head.