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| Staff Writer |
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One Everest hopeful is rapidly emerging from relative obscurity to capture the imagination of punters and enthusiasts alike. I Am Me, a talented mare co-owned and managed by Dynamic Syndications, has been steadily climbing the ranks, transforming from a Canberra maiden winner to a serious Everest prospect.
As I Am Me approaches the pinnacle of Australian sprinting, the question on everyone's lips is whether she has what it takes to compete in The Everest. Dynamic Syndication’s Adam Watt, who has an astute eye for talent, is unequivocal in his belief in her abilities.
"I certainly believe in our mare's ability and her form will warrant her start," he states confidently. Watt points to I Am Me's track record at Canterbury Park and her near-record time at Randwick over 1200 metres as evidence of her suitability for The Everest distance.
"When she won at Randwick back in 2022, she ran 1:07.77, which was only just outside of Yes Yes Yes's track record," Watt notes. "So, I've got no doubt that she's a genuine 1200-metre horse."
Moreover, Watt sees I Am Me's versatility as a key asset. "She's perfectly adaptable; she can sit on speed, or she can take a sit. She won't be too far away in the run. And those sorts of horses seem to be the horses that have performed best in the Everest so far."
"If she's able to come out and get a slot and be extremely competitive in the Everest, the world's her oyster for the next 12 months,” he says.
Watt is also quick to point out I Am Me's strong form against other potential Everest contenders, "I have no doubt that we have a horse as good, if not better."
He adds, "I certainly feel that our mare, and a mare like Bella Nipotina (already selected as an Everest contender) will well and truly give the boys a run for their money."
I Am Me's story begins at the Inglis Premier sale, where she caught Watt's eye despite – or perhaps because of – her modest price tag. "We felt that she was a sale ring bargain," Watt recalls. "We couldn't believe we were able to secure her for that money that year."
Bred by another co-owner, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, the mare's pedigree – by I Am Invincible out of Mefnooda – hinted at her potential, but it was her physical attributes that really stood out. Watt elaborates, "To us, she was very well put together. She was just a filly that needed some time. You could always tell that she would grow into a beautiful horse. We bought her under that mindset; just give her some time and take her along slowly. We've just been thrilled with the way she has been able to progress through the grades.
This foresight has paid dividends, with I Am Me blossoming into what Watt now calls "a magnificent racehorse" and "a stunning mare." He adds with evident pride, "She's just a stunning mare. She's a big, strong girl. She's everything we look for in a racehorse."
Central to I Am Me's success has been the approach adopted by her connections. Watt credits the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace team for their "patient training techniques" and acknowledges the support of an ownership group willing to take the long view.
This patience was put to the test early in I Am Me's career when she suffered a setback as a two-year-old. "She ended up with a stress fracture behind," Watt reveals. Rather than rushing her back, the team made the crucial decision to give her a six-month break. "We sort of explained to the ownership group that she was a horse that we held in really high regard, and they allowed us to give her a six-month break and really look after her."
Watt emphasises their long-term strategy, "In those early preparations, and in those key fundamental times for a young horse, she spent a lot of time just in the paddock, growing, strengthening and recuperating. I think that has contributed to why she's also improved with age; she's just been taken along naturally all the way through."
This approach has been a hallmark of I Am Me's career, with Watt and the team consistently prioritising her well-being over short-term gains. "We've always put her interests before our own," Watt emphasises. This strategy has allowed I Am Me to mature naturally, contributing to her continued improvement with age.
"We've always had a really high opinion of her ever since we first put a saddle on her back. We knew that she was quite special," states Watt.
I Am Me's journey from a maiden win at Canberra to Group success is a testament to the team's methodical approach. Watt outlines their strategy, "We've tried just to take her through each and every grade all the way through from winning a maiden at Canberra to a class one at Ballarat, a first win in town, being a benchmark 78 with only 54 kilos on her back at Flemington."
This careful progression has resulted in an impressive record of 10 wins from 22 starts, including victory in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes. Her recent performances have put her firmly in the frame for an Everest slot, with Watt confirming conversations with several slot holders.
"We've had conversations with a couple of slot holders already, which is exciting," Watt reveals. "And for us, it's just about what our mare does.”
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While The Everest is the immediate focus, Watt and the team are keeping their options open for I Am Me's future. International targets are on the radar, with potential trips to Hong Kong, Royal Ascot, and even Dubai under consideration.
"We haven't ruled out a potential trip to Hong Kong with her for the International sprint in December," Watt reveals. "She was invited last year, and it was just at the end of a long preparation, and unfortunately, we couldn't go. But if we were lucky enough to receive an invitation from Hong Kong again this year, it's something that the ownership group would love to consider."
The prospect of competing in the Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai is particularly intriguing, given Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum's 15% stake in I Am Me. "I'm sure he'd have great satisfaction bringing her home to Dubai to showcase her to the rest of the world and his family," Watt muses. "So, it’s definitely a race that we would consider."
Royal Ascot is another tantalising possibility. "We certainly haven't ruled out a potential trip to Ascot as well," Watt says. "We saw how well Asfoora ran at Ascot this year, and we feel that our mare is just as good as Asfoora. She loves fast ground, and that's something that we could also consider."
These international aspirations underscore the team's confidence in I Am Me's ability to compete at the highest level globally. It's a far cry from her humble beginnings, but a testament to the careful nurturing she's received throughout her career.
As I Am Me prepares for her next challenge in the Gr.2 Shorts at Randwick, Watt remains focused on the task at hand. A win here could cement her Everest credentials and set the stage for an exciting spring campaign.
"If she was to win again on Saturday, she'd jump up to 10 points and be a clear leader in the [Sprinter] series so far," Watt explains. "So, we would give strong consideration to then running in the Premiere. Or potentially, we could miss the Premiere and go straight into the Everest or the Sydney stakes on the same day, the race that she won last year, and then into the Russell Balding stakes two weeks later, over 1300 and chase the Sportsbet sprinter series."
Looking further ahead, Watt sees no reason to rush I Am Me off to stud. "We feel that she's only now starting to reach her full maturity," he explains, hinting at the possibility of another year of racing. "We've got no interest in rushing her off to stud. We're very fortunate. We've got a beautiful mare that's won 10 races from 22 starts. She's incredibly sound, and a wonderful ownership group love racing their horse and turning up to the races and enjoying her and having fun. So she'll dictate her own path over the next few months," said Watt.
Whatever the future holds, it's clear that I Am Me's journey from sale ring bargain to potential Everest contender is a masterclass in patient horsemanship. Adam Watt and the team's unwavering belief in their mare, coupled with their meticulous approach to her development, serve as an inspiring blueprint for success in the competitive world of Thoroughbred racing.
Watt reflects on the journey, "We've just really looked after her all the way through. We've always had a really big opinion of her ever since we first put a saddle on her back. We knew that she was quite special."
This patient approach has not only benefited I Am Me but has also fostered a strong bond with her ownership group. Watt acknowledges their support: "We were very fortunate that we had a very understanding ownership group, and we could have rushed her back and given her three months and tried to get her back to the races at the end of the two-year-old season, but I explained to the ownership group that she was a horse that we held in really high regard, and they allowed us to give her a six-month break and really look after her."
As the racing world turns its attention to The Everest, whether I Am Me lines up or not, her story is already one of triumph – a testament to the enduring allure of the Thoroughbred and the skilled horsemen who guide their careers.
In Watt's own words, "She'll dictate her own path over the next few months." As I Am Me continues to defy expectations and climb the ranks of Australian sprinting, her journey serves as a reminder of the rewards that come from patience, expertise, and a deep understanding of each individual horse's needs and potential.