Jamie Melham has been eager to reunite with I Wish I Win ever since their first partnership, and recent jumpouts have only increased her anticipation for a possible return to the saddle.
Melham has teamed up with the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained gelding for two jumpout victories, the most recent on Tuesday morning, as he gets ready for his return to the track.
I Wish I Win’s first Australian win, a four-length victory at Caulfield in August 2022, came with Jamie Kah in the saddle, but Melham has not had the chance to ride him since.
With regular jockey Luke Nolen still sidelined due to injury, a new rider will likely be needed for I Wish I Win’s first-up run in the $750,000 Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 22, and Melham was quick to offer her services.
“I’m definitely not going to knock him back,” Melham said. “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 claim the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) in 2022, the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), and finished second in The Everest the following year. He also won the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) in Brisbane, all with Nolen aboard.
In Tuesday’s trial, I Wish I Win jumped well, sitting a length behind leader Ostraka. He moved up alongside the leader early in the straight, cruising for 400m before edging clear late to win by a head.