Warwick Farm-based trainer Joe Pride is eyeing a breakthrough for stable star Private Eye, who has yet to secure a win during the autumn in the last three seasons.
With Saturday’s All Aged Stakes (1400m) on the horizon, Pride is optimistic about changing this trend for the Group 1 victor.
“If he doesn’t win this autumn, it will be four autumns in a row that he hasn’t won a race,” noted Pride, acknowledging the challenge.
“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.”
Despite a promising second-place finish in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) as his first-up performance, the six-year-old gelding has since encountered less favourable results, finishing sixth in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) and 11th in The Galaxy (1100m).
Private Eye missed the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) but showcased his potential in a recent barrier trial at Warwick Farm, where he triumphed by 1.7 lengths with James McDonald aboard.
“James was very impressed with him when he trialled him on Friday and had a fair bit of confidence in the horse,” Pride revealed.
“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.”