Lekvarte set to relish Randwick mile return in The Ingham

Class gelding Private Eye might be the top seed of Joe Pride’s three runners in the $2 million The Ingham, but he has cautioned punters not to discount the outsider of his trio.

A last start winner of the Festival Stakes, Private Eye is a $9 chance while stablemates Estadio Mestalla ($14) and Lekvarte ($23) are at double-figure odds.

Lekavarte has an outstanding record over the Randwick mile, where she has won four of her six starts including the Group 3 Angst Stakes in October.

She then went to Melbourne where she wasn’t disgraced in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), finishing sixth to Atishu, before an unplaced effort in The Gong (1600m) where the backmarker was disadvantaged in a leader dominated race.

“It really didn’t suit her. Thankfully she has come through it really well and the three weeks between runs for her is lovely. She appreciates that,” Pride said.

“She will be under-rated there on Saturday and she will run really well because she seems to be able to do this, she goes elsewhere and then whenever she comes back to the Randwick mile you see her at her best again.

“I wouldn’t underestimate her at all on Saturday.”

While the bulk of Lekvarte’s higher-level form has been in fillies and mares’ grade, Pride says she’s had limited opportunities to show her wares in open company, especially at stakes level.

“Going through the grades she definitely beat the boys,” he said.

“But to be fair to her, she has done most of her racing against the mares, as they do, so I’m not sure how much opportunity she has had to do that.

“She is a genuine Group Two level mare so I don’t see that as being a problem for her.”

Estadio Mestalla has earned his shot at The Ingham (1600m) after following a narrow second in the Little Dance with a win at Kembla Grange last start.

The gelding has been a model of consistency throughout his career with five wins and nine placings from 23 starts and Pride expects another competitive showing, despite the rise in grade.

“He is a ripper. He’s so consistent. I know he doesn’t win often, but he also doesn’t miss the top three very often,” Pride said.

“It’s another big opportunity for him and he is super genuine.”

He also expects Private Eye to hold form and isn’t disheartened by his 61.5kg topweight, despite only three horses carrying 57kg or more to victory in the past 20 years – Utzon (57.5kg, 2006), Monton (58kg, 2011) and Kirwin’s Lane (57kg, 2022).

“I don’t think the weight alone would beat him,” Pride said.

“Bad luck in running, plus the big weight maybe. But if he gets a decent run, the weight won’t be a problem with him.”