Joe Pride has already ticked one goal by winning the Epsom Handicap with Private Eye, now he is setting his sights on the horse’s next mission.
Pride celebrated his first win in the feature Randwick mile when the four-year-old stormed down the outside to claim the Group 1 race on Saturday.
His next aim is the $7.5 million Golden Eagle (1400m) at Randwick on October 30 when Private Eye will bid to follow the path blazed by the Chris Waller-trained Kolding two years ago.
Like Private Eye, Kolding claimed his first stakes win in the 2019 Queensland Guineas before returning in the spring to win the Epsom and the inaugural Golden Eagle.
“I am well aware of what Kolding did,” Pride said.
“We have won the Guineas and the Epsom and he will go straight to the Golden Eagle now.”
Private Eye isn’t the only horse to emerge from the Brisbane winter carnival and make an early spring impact.
The winter’s results are proving an exceptional form reference with horses like Zaaki and Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes victor Incentivise also returning to capture Group 1 wins.
Private Eye’s stablemate and Doomben 10,000 winner Eduardo is another who has come through the Brisbane carnival, landing a blistering first-up win in the Shorts to set himself up for a genuine Everest bid.
“The Queensland winter carnival didn’t look overly strong this year,” Pride said.
“But Eduardo, Incentivise and Private Eye have all won good races and all came through the winter carnival.”
Pride has successfully sought permission for Eduardo to have a barrier trial at Randwick on Friday to round out his preparations for the Everest.
The speedster has come through his Shorts victory in great order and will be partnered by race jockey Nash Rawiller in the hitout.
“He’s going to go to Randwick next Friday to trial,” Pride said.
“He’s super.”
Eduardo is on the fourth line of TAB’s Everest markets at $7 with Classique Legend, who could also trial at Randwick on Friday, a $4.50 favourite.
