The club wanted to put the two stars head to head over 1200m as the centrepiece of a carnival-like, one-race meeting accompanied by bands, live AFL coverage and hospitality on September 22.
While the race would have had tremendous novelty value, I Wish I Win’s majority owner Chittick has said he isn’t keen after the Giga Kick team announced they were.
Match races were not uncommon last century involving some of the most famous horses, the last big drawcard in this part of the world being between Let’s Elope and Bettor Loosen Up at Caulfield in 1992, won by Let’s Elope.
They are almost unheard of these days, but with I Wish I Win and Giga Kick likely to need a strong workout that week, a 1200m match race on that date could have fitted into their training programmes.
While the match race idea may have been short-lived, tomorrow’s Memsie is very much on and trainer Peter Moody admits barrier 1 for his stable star concerns him. He says while I Wish I Win’s winter coat is slowly coming away, he is fit enough to race well tomorrow.
“But that draw could make things tricky. I can see him getting locked away back on the inside as the other top chances get in front of him so we will need some luck.”
