Warwick Farm-based trainer Joe Pride has observed a peculiar trend with his stable star, Private Eye, noting that the talented runner has failed to secure a win during the autumn season for the past three years.
Pride is hopeful that the Group 1 victor can break this streak when he contests Saturday’s All Aged Stakes (1400m).
“If he doesn’t win this autumn, it will be four autumns in a row that he hasn’t won a race,” Pride remarked, highlighting the challenge faced by the six-year-old gelding.
“He’s a bit hard to place, and he gets a lot of wet tracks, which has contributed, but then in the winter, he’s good. He likes the spring, he likes the winter, but the autumn has been a tricky time for him,” Pride explained, shedding light on Private Eye’s seasonal performance patterns.
Private Eye’s recent outings include a second-place finish in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m), followed by a sixth-place finish in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) and an 11th-place finish in The Galaxy (1100m).
Although he missed the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), Private Eye participated in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm last week with James McDonald aboard, securing victory by 1.7 lengths.
“James was very impressed with him when he trialed him on Friday and had a fair bit of confidence in the horse,” Pride revealed, emphasising McDonald’s positive assessment of Private Eye’s form.
“I like that. I like the fact he has had a sit on him, and he takes that confidence into the race because Private Eye at his best, he would beat those horses,” Pride added, expressing optimism about his horse’s chances in the upcoming race.
2024 All Aged Stakes Final Field
1. Private Eye (10)
- T: Joseph Pride
- J: James McDonald
- W: 59kg
- F: 062×2
- Age: 6YO
- Color: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Al Maher
- Dam: Confidential Queen
+190
2. Golden Mile (13)
- T: James Cummings
- J: Adam Hyeronimus
- W: 59kg
- F: 487×3
- Age: 4YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Astern
- Dam: Calaverite
+650
3. Buenos Noches (3)
- T: Matthew Smith
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 59kg
- F: 9094x
- Age: 4YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Supido
- Dam: Koi
+600
4. Bandersnatch (12)
- T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
- J: Dylan Gibbons
- W: 59kg
- F: 207×4
- Age: 7YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Casino Prince
- Dam: Divine Faith
+900
5. Buffalo River (9)
- T: Mike Moroney
- J: Tim Clark
- W: 59kg
- F: 64333
- Age: 8YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Noble Mission (GB)
- Dam: Fashion Insider (USA)
+850
6. Airman (11)
- T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
- J: Tommy Berry
- W: 59kg
- F: 73×82
- Age: 4YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: I Am Invincible
- Dam: Zara Bay
+650
7. Amenable (14)
- T: Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
- J: Chad Schofield
- W: 59kg
- F: 92×46
- Age: 4YO
- Color: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Lonhro
- Dam: Caribbean Sunset (IRE)
+750
8. Chain Of Lightning (4)
- T: Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman
- J: Rachel King
- W: 57kg
- F: 110×0
- Age: 5YO
- Color: Grey
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Fighting Sun
- Dam: Magic Art
+200
9. Espiona (8)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Nash Rawiller
- W: 57kg
- F: 633×4
- Age: 5YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Extreme Choice
- Dam: Dahooil (NZ)
-125
10. Sunshine In Paris (2)
- T: Annabel Neasham
- J: Ryan Maloney
- W: 57kg
- F: 52x1x
- Age: 4YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Invader
- Dam: Zenaida (NZ)
-111.11
11. Magic Time (6)
- T: Grahame Begg
- J: Michael Dee
- W: 57kg
- F: 76×13
- Age: 4YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Hellbent
- Dam: Time Awaits
+190
12. Southport Tycoon (5)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Jamie Kah
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 122×9
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Chestnut
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Written Tycoon
- Dam: Ready To Rule (USA)
+135
13. Encap (7)
- T: Gary Portelli
- J: Tyler Schiller
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 6523x
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Capitalist
- Dam: Enquare
+260
14. Tiz Invincible (1)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Zac Lloyd
- W: 54.5kg
- F: 886×9
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: I Am Invincible
- Dam: Amuletum (GB)
+650
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