I Am Me Not to be Forgotten in All-Star Concorde Showdown

05 Sep 24

I Am Me is ready to be the joker in the pack in Saturday's $1m Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) and enhance her own The Everest credentials at Royal Randwick.

Story by Mitch Cohen Racenet.com & The Daily Telegraph: 04:15pm; 04 September 2024

That's the expectation of owner Dynamic Syndications as they prepare to welcome back their smart sprinter this weekend.

I AM ME & Dynamic James McDonald

The race for The Everest slots is set to go up a notch in the Concorde when 2022 winner Giga Kick, two-time placegetter Private Eye, Group 1 weapon Bella Nipotina and Godolphin star Aft Cabin all return.

But I Am Me, one of two Ciaron Maher-trained contenders, is expected to be a worthy challenger to the elite quartet.

Ciaron Maher & James McDonald - Winners are Grinners!

"She will love the firm track and it's the first time in a long time she's been set to go 1000m first up," Dynamic Syndications' Adam Watt said.

"She gets in well at the weights (57kg) and off her trackwork on Monday, she will give it a good shake.

"I know Bella Nipotina is the shorter price of the two runners in the market but I Am Me has met her twice and she hasn't beaten her home yet.

"I reckon we can go three from three on Saturday."

Giga Kick is the $2.70 favourite to make a statement in his first run for close to a year with Bella Nipotina at $4.30, Private Eye at $6 while I Am Me is $10.

I Am Me won The Everest consolation last year with a tough on speed effort in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) where Bella Nipotina finished third.

The six-year-old had three autumn Group 1 runs for a third in the William Reid Stakes and a pair of fourths in the Sangster Stakes and The Goodwood.

She will campaign in Sydney early this spring to take advantage of the lucrative $6m Sportsbet Sprint Series.

Dean & Adam Watt

Dean and Adam Watt won the Sydney Stakes with I Am Me last year.

"We are really happy with her and we feel she has come back better than she did in the autumn," Watt said.

"To be fair, she has to, but we feel she is back to the sort of class she was showing us in the spring last year.

"We thought Concorde, Shorts, Premiere was a nice plan and if she was to come out and win one of those races, there may still be an opportunity for a slot in The Everest.

"After the Premiere, with Racing NSW now tweaking the carnival, we could also look at going three weeks into the Invitation, the Russell Balding or even head to Melbourne."

Adam, Fiona & Dean Watt in the Winner's Circle with IT'S A KNOCKOUT

Dynamic and Ciaron Maher combined last weekend with It's A Knockout at Rosehill Gardens with the mare now headed for a spell.