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| Staff Writer |
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I Am Me pressed her claims for a slot in The Everest with a gutsy victory in the Gr.2 The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday, giving star jockey James McDonald the second leg of what would become a four-timer on the day.
Replicating the tactics employed by Nash Rawiller in her first-up win, McDonald had the Ciaron Maher-trained mare stalking the speed before unleashing a powerful finish. The result mirrored her Concorde Stakes triumph from a fortnight ago, as I Am Me held off the fast-finishing Stefi Magnetica by a long neck, with Mazu a further half-length away in third.
Maher's Sydney foreman Johann Gerard-Dubord was full of praise for the four-year-old's performance, saying: "That's what James said before the race, just copy and paste, and that's exactly what he did. To do it first-up, obviously is one thing, but to repeat it two weeks later like that is a good effort. Especially after a hard run like that, two weeks back-up, there's always a bit of a question mark, but she's come back better."
Having now claimed the scalp of stablemate and confirmed Everest contender Bella Nipotina twice, I Am Me's connections are hopeful of securing one of the remaining slots in the US$15 million sprint. Gerard-Dubord added: "She has beaten [many of] the same ones twice now, 1200 will only suit her. She is full of confidence now and those mares in form, it's hard to stop them."
The Shorts has a rich history of producing top-class sprinters. Notable past winners include Terravista (2014), who went on to claim the Group One VRC Sprint Classic, and Classique Legend (2020), who followed up with a dominant victory in The Everest that same year.
McDonald expressed confidence in I Am Me's ability, stating: "She always felt in control of the race and even a furlong from home, I felt like I was always going to win, even though they were so close. She's just doing enough, enough, enough. She's won the first two lead-ups to the great race [Everest], so she's ticking a lot of boxes."
The victory aboard I Am Me was part of a remarkable afternoon for McDonald, who rode the last four winners on the card. His quartet began with Autumn Glow in the Tea Rose Stakes, followed by Fangirl in the 7 Stakes, I Am Me in The Shorts, and Moravia rounding out the day in The Agency Real Estate Handicap.
While I Am Me took the honours, the performances of the placegetters did not go unnoticed. Zac Lloyd, aboard runner-up Stefi Magnetica, was effusive in his praise: "Geesh...She proved a couple of doubters wrong there. She has gone half a stride from winning from the back. 1100m which wasn't suitable for her. She has rattled home like that so six furlongs will be right up her alley."
Jason Collett, rider of third-placed Mazu, was also pleased with his mount's effort, noting: "Great run. Obviously more effective on softer ground first up in this company was very good."
As the spring carnival heats up, all eyes will be on I Am Me to see if she can secure that coveted Everest slot and continue her ascent in the sprinting ranks.