An early call to head to Melbourne for a Stakes race has paid dividends for the connections of Private Eye.
With wet weather prevailing in Sydney, trainer Joe Pride opted to trial Private Eye at Warwick Farm last week and bypass the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
The move proved a winning one as Pride instead targeted the Group 2 P B Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, with Private Eye delivering in style.
Sent out the $3.10 favourite under Nash Rawiller, Private Eye led throughout to score by two lengths from Desert Lightning ($12), with Here To Shock ($6) finishing a half-length away in third.
Recently turned eight, Private Eye was having only his second start of 2025, having finished third in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm in June.
Pride said residual fitness from that outing, combined with recent trials, had Private Eye in ideal shape for Saturday’s contest. His confidence grew further when he saw the gelding step off the truck at Caulfield.
“It was a little bit like In Flight when she won here,” Pride said.
“When I saw him get off the float, I grew in confidence. When your horses travel away, you need to see them travel well, and he looked magnificent.
“He’s an amazing athlete and that was his 13th interstate trip. He’s very tough and carried a good bit of residual fitness from Queensland.
“It was only his second start for 2025. It would easily be the lightest he has been raced in some time and maybe that has something to do with his good form at the moment.”
Pride indicated Private Eye may return for a tilt at the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30, although conditions and tracks will determine his program.
“I wouldn’t rule out coming back for the Memsie, but there are plenty of races there in Sydney also,” Pride said. “We’ll hopefully pick something off and hopefully on a better track than we got today.”
Rawiller revealed Private Eye gave him a pre-race scare when he hit his head in the stalls, but he was quickly cleared to run.
“Another horse got a bit agitated, and he took a dive and hit his head,” Rawiller said.
“I backed him out and got him checked, but I was confident he was well enough to race, I just wanted to double check.
“He was really switched on today and he travelled really well from the time he left the gates. It’s full credit to the team at home as he’s got his zest for racing.”
