Luke Nolen salutes after I Wish I Win gets up the TJ Smith Stakes.Credit:Getty
Nolen thinks he is better on top of the ground and was worried coming to the turn.
“He just didn’t seem to handle it until he got up the rise and then balanced up and lengthened,” Nolen said. “That was such a good feeling because he was really struggling.
“He just went from there and really picked them up quick. It was quite incredible.
“He is a super horse to do that.”
Nolen and Moody celebrated a victory 10 years on from Black Caviar winning her second TJ in her racing farewell. I Wish I Win ($9) did by a half-length from The Everest winner Giga Kick ($6.50),with a half-length Mazu ($7) another three-quarters of a length back in third.
The trio only got to three-time defending champion Nature Strip ($4.80 fav) at the 100m and he was brave to hang on for fourth after flying through the middle sectionals and opening a three-length gap at the 300m,as he has done for the previous three years.
But he did have much in the tank when the challengers came.