Private Eye Melbourne-bound after Missile Stakes scrapped

New Paper

2 days ago

SYDNEY - Racing New South Wales' decision not to reprogramme the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1,200m) is set to be Melbourne's gain, with Private Eye in line to resume in the A$300,000 (S$251,000) Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1,400m) at Caulfield on Aug 16.
The Joseph Pride-trained Private Eye was the favourite in the Missile Stakes on Aug 9, but with the Randwick meeting being called off after officials deemed the heavy track unsafe for racing, Sydney's first Group race of the new season was also abandoned, and the 1,200m weight-for-age event will not be rescheduled.
Hence, the Al Maher eight-year-old veteran - whose last win came in the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1,500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Nov 30, 2024 - was scratched from the Missile Stakes after trialling at Warwick Farm on Aug 8.
Pride could not hide his disappointment and said Private Eye would have been a probable starter had the feature race been reprogrammed for later this week.
"I might end up having to go to Melbourne," said the top trainer.
"It's a shame because he is an older horse and he's ready to go.
"I realise I'm only one stable and I'm talking about one horse, but now there is no race for him and they're forcing him to potentially have to go interstate. It's disappointing."
The 2021 Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1,600m) winner is among 21 entries for the PB Lawrence Stakes.
The Lindsay Park team - run by the Hayes brothers Ben, and twins J.D. and Will - will be represented by Group winners Evaporate and Here To Shock, while Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller has five entries, including American-bred Group 1-winning mares Moira, Full Count Felicia and Anisette.
The Enver Jusufovic-trained defending champion Pinstriped will also aim to make it back-to-back.
Besides the PB Lawrence Stakes, the Caulfield meeting will also see the running of three Group 3 races, namely the Vain Stakes and Quezette Stakes - over 1,100m for three-year-olds - as well as the Regal Roller Stakes (1,200m).
The other option for Private Eye is to remain in Sydney, and resume in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1,400m) on Aug 23, which will also see star gallopers like Via Sistina, Fangirl, Lady Shenandoah and Another Wil.
Private Eye led all the way to beat stablemate Ceowulf - who is set to resume in the Winx Stakes - into second in the trial on Aug 8.
That was Private Eye's second trial since his last-start third to War Machine in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1,400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.
Pride said this preparation is all about banking as many wins as possible for the six-time Group winner, who has won 12 races from 43 starts and amassed over A$12.2 million in stake money.
"With Private Eye at this point of his career, it's not about the prizemoney any more, he has earned all that," said Pride.
"It might sound strange to say it, but one of the more disappointing things in his career was running second and third in The Everest. They were massive cheques - he picked up A$2 million for those two Everest runs - but, at the end of the day, they're not wins.
"When we look back on his career, I want him to have as many wins beside his name as he can because he has been a great horse.
"He's got 12 there now, which is great, but I'd love to think he can finish his career with 14 or 15 wins."
Private Eye has contested thrice in The Everest (1,200m). He finished half a length behind Giga Kick for second in 2022, then ran third to stablemate Think About It in 2023, and finished seventh to Bella Nipotina in the 2024 renewal, when the race gained Group 1 status.
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