When Private Eye finished a disinterested eighth in the Group II The Hunter at his most recent start, fans feared they had seen the $11 million earner for the final time.
Reunited with Nash Rawiller, the Joe Pride-trained 7-year-old gelding regained his old spark when making a one-act affair of Saturday’s Group III James Squire Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
Given a positive ride, the son of Al Maher snapped a 63-week drought when lumping 60.5kgs to a three lengths win over Robusto (Churchill), with Xidaki (Zoustar) three-quarters of a length back in third.
With his sixth stakes win, the son of Al Maher advances his record to twelve wins, five seconds, and three thirds from 41 starts with earnings of $11,859,185.
Private Eye was a $62,500 buy for Proven Thoroughbreds/Pride Thoroughbreds out of the Ambergate Farm draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Bred by Kerrie Tibbey's Goodwood Farm, Private Eye is the best of three winners from four to race for the Shamardal mare Confidential Queen, which Tibbey had purchased for $13,000 when consigned by Widden Stud to the 2015 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.
Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing went back to the well to purchase Confidential Queen's Shalaa (IRE) colt for $100,000 at the 2023 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, while a filly by the same sire fell short of her $500,000 reserve this year at Easter.
Afcter missing in 2022, Confidential Queen was covered by Anamoe in November.
