Three Australian top-flight winners — Private Eye, Here To Shock and Pinstriped — are the headline acts in a strong renewal of the $1 million The Supernova (1400m), to be run on Saturday at Southside Pakenham.
Joseph Pride’s star gelding Private Eye, a Group 1 winner and $12.7 million earner, heads to Pakenham freshened after finishing fifth behind Jimmysstar in the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on November 1. He will contest The Supernova in the Ladbrokes slot.
Defending champion Here To Shock will run for Cavallo Park. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained son of Shocking has won 14 races and sits just shy of $3 million in prizemoney.
Enver Jusufovic also fields two chances. Last year’s G1 Memsie Stakes winner Pinstriped runs for Moonee Valley Racing Club, while the highly progressive Proved, winner of six of seven, will race in the Southside slot.
Southside Racing CEO Neil Bainbridge said the depth of the 2025 edition was exactly what the club had hoped for.
“It’s a great field, it’s got a lot of depth, it’s very even and there’s a lot of quality at the top,” Bainbridge told Racing.com. “We’re delighted Private Eye is going to run in the Ladbrokes slot; he’s a 114-rater, he’s won nearly $13 million and he’s a Group 1 winner.
“Here To Shock, last year’s winner, is a Group 1 winner as well. Arkansaw Kid was second in The Meteorite the other week and was runner-up to Here To Shock in the Supernova last year.
“And then you have Pinstriped, another Group 1 winner. He’s one of two for EJ (Jusufovic), along with Proved; she has won six of seven and runs in the Southside slot.”
Bainbridge added the meeting shapes as one of the track’s best: “We’re thrilled; it’s tremendous to get that calibre of horse and what a great card it will be with the Ladbrokes Pakenham Cup, as well.”
A deep supporting roster rounds out the field. Ciaron Maher saddles Warnie, while Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr present Taken for slot-holder Carl Holt. Zou Sensation represents OTI Racing for Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin.
Chris Waller’s G3 winner Gumdrops has been secured by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock, while South Australian visitor Watchme Win takes the Lofty Group slot for trainer Andrew Gluyas.
Moody Racing combines with Dan Meagher to run 10-time Singapore domestic G1 winner Lim’s Kosciuszko, and Lucy Yeomans’ Jenni The Fox will race for Cape Schanck Racing. The 308 Group teams with Gavin Bedggood to field the seven-time winner Hughes.
“Lim’s Kosciuszko, the former Singapore champ … it’s a fantastic story with Peter Moody and Dan Meagher teaming up,” Bainbridge said. “The horse is a 104-rater and gets his chance. It’s a unique race, only possible because of the support of the slot-holders.
“Whether you’re Carl Holt, Sheamus Mills, Yulong, OTI or whoever … they’ve all leant into this concept. The field has won collectively nearly $28 million and racked up more than 105 wins. I’m sure this will be a tremendous race with great interest.”
For betting markets and bookmaker comparisons on The Supernova meeting, visit our Australian betting sites guide.
