3 minute read

Group 1 winner Private Eye is set to have at least two runs in Brisbane during the winter carnival.

Joe Pride will revert to Plan B with top sprinter-miler Private Eye after scratching him from the All Aged Stakes due to the heavy track. 

The trainer had flagged not sending the horse around if conditions were worse than a soft seven and unfortunately for Private Eye's connections, Randwick was posted as a heavy 8 on Saturday morning. 

While disappointed not to be saddling him up in the final Group 1 race of the Sydney autumn carnival, Pride said he would shift his focus to Brisbane starting with the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m). 

"He will go to the Victory Stakes and then maybe the Kingsford-Smith (Cup)," Pride said. 

"The Victory Stakes is two weeks away so that would be four weeks between runs but that's alright, we'll just give him a trial next week and then take him up. 

"He really likes Eagle Farm. He's done really well both times I've taken him up there." 

Private Eye has had three starts at Eagle Farm highlighted by his victory in the 2021 Queensland Guineas (1600m) as a three-year-old and a fast-finishing second to Alligator Blood in last year's Stradbroke Handicap (1400m). 

Pride also has designs on Brisbane with promising sprinter Think About It, who will resume in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m) at Gosford on May 6 before heading north. 

The four-year-old has won six of his seven starts, landing his first black-type success in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1400m) in February before being sent for a short break. 

"He's super. I'm glad I gave him a little break because he would have had to run on the wet tracks through the Randwick carnival," Pride said. 

"He's had a little freshen up and all being well he'll be in Brisbane for a couple of the nice races up there, maybe a Stradbroke." 

Think About It is a $6 favourite in pre-nomination markets for the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 10 while Private Eye is a $15 chance and a $6 equal second pick for the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) on May 27.