Wet weather could end plans for Private Eye’s Missile Stakes 2025 return

Joe Pride is weighing up a late decision on whether Private Eye will contest the Missile Stakes this Saturday or be kept fresh with a Warwick Farm trial instead.

The Group 1 performer is favourite in betting, backed from $3.30 into $2.60, but with Randwick’s track already a heavy 9 and more rain on the way, Pride is cautious about running first-up in such testing ground.

“I feel like he’s in for a good preparation and while I think he looks a good thing in that race, I’m not sure I want to kick him off on a really heavy track,” he told media.

Options remain open, including a trial on Friday or a tilt at the Winx Stakes or the P B Lawrence Stakes in the coming weeks.

“There is a good chance he will be at the trials on Friday instead but I will make a decision on Friday morning,” Pride said.

He also noted the added risk of raceday rain, which affects track conditions more than earlier rainfall. “Wet tracks to run on are so different when the rain is three or four days before a race as opposed to rain on race days,” he said.

“Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to wait and say, ‘oh, I’m going to pull him out now’. He has to go to the trials on Friday if he doesn’t race.”

The Missile Stakes is the season’s first stakes event in Sydney and leads into the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 23.

Pride expects Private Eye to prove his class if he lines up this weekend. “Could any other horse in that race do what he’s done in his life?” he said.

“He is clearly the best horse in the race and he’s not even penalised for it because it’s set weights and penalties and he hasn’t won a Group One in the last twelve months or so.”

To get behind your pick in the Missile Stakes or any feature races this spring, check out Australia’s best betting sites here.