James McDonald has secured the coveted mount aboard defending champion I Wish I Win in the upcoming $3 million Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday week.
Waikato Stud, in partnership with co-trainer Peter Moody, confirmed McDonald as the replacement for Luke Nolen, who piloted I Wish I Win in his recent jump-out at Pakenham last Tuesday.
Jamie Kah steered the Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained five-year-old to victory in his Australian debut at Caulfield in August 2022.
However, Nolen has been the regular rider for the five-year-old in his subsequent eight starts.
Nolen’s absence from competitive action since mid-January, due to a trackwork fall necessitating surgery to repair a perforated bowel, prompted the change in jockey for the prized TJ Smith Stakes ride.