The Joe Pride-trained Private Eye came from the tail of the field for a richly deserved first Group 1 triumph in Saturday’s $1,500,000 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
Ridden by Regan Bayliss, Private Eye came with a barnstorming finish down the centre of the track to defeat Aramayo (Poet’s Voice) by a head with a short-half-head back to Dalasan (Dalakhani) in third.
Carrying the black and green colours of Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbreds, Private Eye advances his record to eight wins and one second from 13 starts with earnings of $1,438,960.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Joe Pride,” Bayliss said.
“He is one who really backed me in Sydney from an early age. He was a trainer who put me on good chances in town, and I needed to capitalise on a couple of those opportunities.
“I just love this horse Private Eye. He’s been set for the race. Joe knows how to set them for a big one to peak on the day. He is going to be mighty hard to beat in the Golden Eagle.”
Pride was not able to be at the course but watched the race from home.
“I couldn’t help but give him a cheer in my lounge room,” Pride said.
“My old boss John Size was a statue when he watched races, and I would think how does he do that.
“Everyone is different, but I’ve always felt the day I can’t give them a cheer I will hand over the reins to someone else.
I knew I had given him the right prep and I was confident in the horse. You need luck, but it all panned out beautifully. He has got an engine this horse, he’s a ripper. When he won first-up he signaled to me that day he had come back bigger and better than ever.
“In his last two starts, it just hasn’t worked out for him but I knew in an Epsom, they are high pressure races and it would suit him. I put the blinkers on the other day and I wasn’t sure what to make of his run but Hugh got off him and said the horse went really well. It was a call I had to make and I decided to leave them on.
“It’s so good to get this big win for Jamie Walter. You would not meet a nicer person, he is just like his (late) brother Guy. Jamie is a gentleman, and this is my biggest win for him.
“Kolding won the Queensland Guineas-Epsom Handicap-Golden Eagle treble two years ago. I am well aware of what Kolding did. We have won the Guineas and the Epsom, and he will go straight to the Golden Eagle now. The Queensland winter carnival didn’t look overly strong this year. But Eduardo, Incentivise and Private Eye all won good races all came through the winter carnival.”
Bred by Goodwood Farm, Private Eye was a $62,500 Magic Millions Adelaide Magic Millions purchase for Proven Thoroughbreds/Pride Thoroughbreds/ from the Ambergate Farm draft.
He is the best of two winners from as many to race out of Confidential Queen, a half-sister by Shamardal (USA) to Group III placed King’s Troop from the family of Group I winner and champion sire Snitzel and Hinchinbrook.
Confidential Queen missed in 2018 and 2019 and was covered last spring by Shalaa (IRE).
Private Eye is the fifth Group 1 winner for Al Maher (Danehill), who stands at Stockwell Stud for a fee of $8,800.
