Weather to determine Joe Pride’s hand in TJ Smith Stakes

Private Eye won’t line up in the TJ Smith Stakes if the track is heavy, but two of his stablemates will have their chances enhanced if conditions at Randwick continue to deteriorate.

Mazu and Coal Crusher both boast superior wet track form, the former winning four of his six starts on heavy ground and placing in the other two, including a third behind I Wish I Win and Giga Kick in the corresponding race last year.

Coal Crusher has a similar record with four wins from seven runs on heavy ground and trainer Joe Pride admits he is only backing the horse up due to the weather forecast.

“It’s a bit of a gamble. I wouldn’t be here on a good surface, but on a heavy track and because of where he finished in the Canterbury Stakes and the Winners’ Stakes, he is only a length or two off these kind of horses,” Pride said.

“A heavy track might be what he needs to be competitive.”

Formerly trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Mazu is in his first preparation for Pride, finishing fifth in the Challenge Stakes (1000m) at his only appearance for the stable.

He was scratched from The Galaxy (1100m) due to poor blood results, but Pride said he had pleased them since.

“He was going to be looking for a wet track this preparation and he’s going to get one,” Pride said.

“He will run terrific. He ran third in this race last year, he’s a great horse in the wet and he’s going well.”

The rain isn’t a welcome sight for Private Eye, however.

While the gelding posted two heavy track wins early in his career, he hasn’t enjoyed testing conditions as an older horse and will go straight to the All Aged Stakes (1400m) if Saturday’s surface comes up a soft 7 or worse.

Pride’s ATC Australian Derby hope Ceolwulf is untried on ground worse than soft, but he is by Tavistock, whose progeny generally handle wet tracks.

Sixth in the Randwick Guineas (1600m) and a slashing second in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m), Ceolwulf will be out to continue that trajectory into the 2400m of the Derby.

“I like the way he has shaped up this preparation with improvement coming with each run and more importantly, the improvement as the races have got further,” Pride said.

“He has never been over 2400 metres, but geez, you’d think it would suit him. The Tavistocks have won a few ATC Derbies. As three-year-olds, that’s their trip.

“We have seen some champions win the race, hopefully my horse can join them.”

Pride will have up to five Group 1 runners on Saturday with Doncaster Mile contender Think About It rounding out his elite squad.