Pride has one Eye on Brisbane as he gang tackles Randwick
Joe Pride will launch Private Eye first-up into the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) after scrapping plans to run him in the Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) following the washout at Eagle Farm last weekend.
Initially, Private Eye was to return in the Group 1 1300m sprint, but with the race postponed, Pride chose to give him a strong trial instead and resume in Queensland’s premier sprint.
“The rescheduling didn’t suit us. I wasn’t keen on the quick back-up and didn’t want him sitting around in Brisbane all week,” Pride said.
“He’s had plenty of groundwork with four trials and his fitness is where I need it to be.”
The gelding will rejoin Pride’s Queensland team next week, with Lekvarte holding the stable's flag in the Magic Millions National Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Randwick will also see a strong representation from the stable, led by In Flight in the Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) and supported by Estadio Mestalla, Headley Grange, and Testator Silens in the Singapore Pools Handicap (1300m).
“The track looks heavy again, but I’m confident in all of them. Headley Grange is very consistent, and Estadio Mestalla should run well fresh,” Pride noted.
Cosmonova is likely to wait for better conditions on Monday at Canterbury, making Storm The Ramparts the only Pride runner in the final event of the day at Randwick.
“He’s coming off a win and loves the wet. We’ll see if he can finally go back-to-back,” he added. “It’s shaping up to be a solid day for the yard.”
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