I AM ME Passes Fit For Everest Tilt

14 Oct 24

RACING NSW – Latest News 14/10/24

Everest Runner I Am Me - Passes Stewards Test

Six-year-old mare I Am Me, which was reported to have blood present in one nostril after competing at the Rosehill Gardens barrier trials on Friday, 4 October 2024, has this morning passed the necessary test in the presence of Racing NSW Stewards and the Chief Veterinary Officer.

I Am Me is now cleared to take her place in The TAB Everest on Saturday (19 October) at Royal Randwick.

Storm In Teacup Resolved as I AM ME Sizzles in Trackwork ahead of The EVEREST Tilt

Ray Thomas 14/10/24: The Everest hopeful I Am Me passed a searching fitness test under the watchful eye of Racing NSW chief steward Steve Railton (and the chief Veterinary Officer) at trainer Ciaron Maher's private training complex at Bong Bong on Monday morning.

I Am Me worked solo over 1000m and was later cleared by Railton and the Racing NSW veterinarian to take her place in the $20 million The TAB Everest, run at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Stewards had ordered the Everest-eve fitness test as a precautionary measure after I Am Me was found to have a trace of blood from one nostril after a recent barrier trial.

"I Am Me galloped on her own over 1000m this morning and has passed her test, she is cleared to run in The Everest.'' Railton said.

Railton also took the opportunity to have Maher's other outstanding sprinter, Bella Nipotina, trotted up before stewards and veterinarians prior to giving her the "green light" for The Everest.

"We have our vets and stewards out today at various tracks to inspect all The Everest and King Charles runners,'' said Railton, confirming this was routine practice by stewards before a big race.

The all-important Everest barrier draw will be held at Royal Randwick on Tuesday night with Rawiller hoping I Am Me can get a starting position close to the inside rail.

"She drew inside in her two lead-up runs and was able to take full advantage,'' Rawiller said.

"It would be great if she drew well again. If we get inside three it would be a great help.

"But she is a very straightforward type of horse, she makes her own luck, so even from an awkward draw, she can overcome it pretty quickly.''

Rawiller has ridden in five Everest's with his best results third placings on Eduardo (2021) and Private Eye (2023).

"I've got a lot of faith in I Am Me, she is in The Everest up to her ears,'' he said.

Nash Rawiller was booked for the ride after her sizzling win The Concorde over 1000m but had to forego her The Shorts victory to James McDonald as Nash could not make that allotted weight of 55.0kgs.

I AM ME heads into The EVEREST in with a Career Summary: 23 sts=11:3:2 & Prizemoney: $3,689,850

Her trackwork on Monday morning was simply superb and the best she has done in her career.

It is also interesting to note that of the older horses in The Everest field only SUNSHINE IN PARIS has met I AM ME and finished in front of her, which was in the Gr2 Sheraco in 2023 with genuine reasons for those finishing positions.

Whilst I AM ME has met and beaten home five of the field:

STEFI MAGNETICA, BELLA NIPOTINA, GIGAKICK, PRIVATE EYE and 3YO Filly LADY OF CAMELOT.

She has not competed against older horses I WISH I WIN and JOLIESTAR. She also has not competed against the current 3YO colts: GLOWING EMPIRE, TRAFFIC WARDEN, STORM BOY/SWITZERLAND.

I AM ME has impeccable formlines at Randwick. She has raced 5 times for 4 wins. The only time she missed was at 1400m in the Listed REGINALD ALLEN at her third career start where she went into that event as a Maiden on a wet track behind Fangirl and Roots.

Her next 4 starts at Royal Randwick have been 4 wins including a sizzling time of 1:07.77 in a Bm88.

Plus she won last year’s $2m SYDNEY STAKES Gr3 1200m from barrier 12.

She has followed that with scintillating wins this preparation in The CONCORDE 1000m Gr3 and The SHORTS 1100m Gr2.

Knowing she has excellent 1200m formlines, and brilliant Randwick form we are tingling with anticipation about Saturday:

1200m Formlines: 9 sts: 4 wins; 1 2nd; 1 3rd; 2 4ths.

I AM ME is the 1200m Track Record Holder at Canterbury earned in the Canterbury Sprint a 1200m Listed Race.

8 of her 9 Race starts at 1200m have been at Stakes Grade: 4 x Gr1; 2 x Gr2; 1 x Gr3; 1 x Listed.

Whilst she has been only beyond 1200m twice. Once as a young horse and the other when a 1 length runner-up to Magic Time in a Gr1 Rupert Clark over 1400m spotting the winner 2.5kgs.

1st of 12 RAND 17Dec22 1200m Good4 BM88 $150,000 ($76,250) James McDonald 58kg Barrier 1 Rtg 88 2nd Dehorned Unicorn 51.5kg, 3rd Hellfest 56.5kg 1:07.77 (600m 33.51), 1.17L, 2nd@800m, 1st@400m, $2.25/$2.60/$2.45/$2.50

1st of 9 CANT 01Jan23 1200m Good3 CBY SPRINT Listed $160,000 ($82,500) Andrew Adkins 54kg Barrier 9 Rtg 96 2nd Spaceboy 53.5kg, 3rd Dragonstone 53.5kg 1:08.45R (600m 34.13), 1.21L, 2nd@800m, 2nd@400m, $1.60/$1.55/$1.60 TRACK RECORD

1st of 10 RHIL 05Aug23 1200m Good4 MISSILE Group 2 $302,000 ($172,000) Tim Clark 54kg Barrier 1 Rtg 103 2nd Dragonstone 56kg, 3rd Deepour 56kg 1:09.67 (600m 34.29), 1.71L, 1st@800m, 1st@400m, $2.35/$2.50/$2.45/$2.40

6th of 8 RHIL 09Sep23 1200m Good4 SHERACO Group 2 $302,000 ($3,750) Adam Hyeronimus 56kg Barrier 6 Rtg 107 1st Sunshine In Paris 58kg, 2nd Espiona 58kg 1:08.80 (600m 33.45), 2.08L, 2nd@800m, 2nd@400m, $3.60/$3.50/$3.70/$3.80

1st of 16 RAND 14Oct23 1200m Good3 SYDNEY STKS Group 3 $2,001,500 ($1,156,500) James McDonald 56.5kg Barrier 12 Rtg 107 2nd Airman 58.5kg, 3rd Bella Nipotina 56.5kg 1:08.57 (600m 33.07), 0.67L, 2nd@800m, 2nd@400m, $5.50/$6/$5/$4.80

2nd of 6 M V 28Oct23 1200m Good3 MANIKATO Group 1 $2,015,000 ($360,000) James McDonald 56.5kg Barrier 5 Rtg 109 1st Imperatriz 56.5kg, 3rd Uncommon James 58.5kg 1:09.59 (600m 34.24), 3.25L, 6th@800m, 5th@400m, $7/$6.50/$6

3rd of 10 M V 23Mar24 1200m Good4 WILLIAM REID Group 1 $1,000,000 ($90,000) Ben Melham 56.5kg Barrier 2 Rtg 110 1st Imperatriz 56.5kg, 2nd Johnny Rocker 58.5kg 1:09.99 (600m 35.32), 2.2L, 3rd@800m, 3rd@400m, $7.50/$7/$6.50

4th of 14 MORP 27Apr24 1200m Good4 SANGSTER Group 1 $1,001,790 ($50,000) Blake Shinn 56.5kg Barrier 2 Rtg 110 1st Climbing Star (NZ) 56.5kg, 2nd Learning To Fly 54.5kg 1:09.75 (600m 34.65), 1.4L, 3rd@800m, 2nd@400m, $6/$5/$5.50/$5

4th of 15 MORP 11May24 1200m Good4 THE GOODWOOD Group 1 $1,001,790 ($50,000) Blake Shinn 55kg Barrier 1 Rtg 110 1st Benedetta 55kg, 2nd Stretan Angel 53kg 1:10.57 (605m 35.23), 1.9L, 1st@800m, 2nd@400m, $7/$5.50/$6/$5.50

With the facts and figures displayed above and being the winner of the two lead-up races in which she competed, along with sizzling trackwork on Monday morning as her final hit out before Saturday, I AM ME goes into The EVEREST in the best possible condition of her career and with the best formlines to ensure she presents in awesome order to be at her competitive best.