Private Eye chases history in Stradbroke Handicap
The Joseph Pride-trained galloper will look to defy a big weight and a long break at Eagle Farm on Saturday
Sydney trainer Joseph Pride is undeterred by the challenges facing Private Eye when the outstanding miler tackles the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1,400m) at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, Australia on Saturday.
Assigned top weight of 57kg (125.6lb), Private Eye will resume after a 182-day break and will have to defy history as he attempts to become the first horse to carry 57kg or more to victory in the Stradbroke Handicap since Rough Habit successfully carried 58.5kg in 1992.
Additionally, winning the Stradbroke Handicap first up is a rare achievement after an extended break with Crawl famously bucking the trend by triumphing in 2001 off a 56-day break.
'Records are made to be broken and I don't think first up is what it used to be,' said Pride, a former protégé of 12-time Hong Kong champion trainer John Size.
'I've also given Private Eye four barrier trials, I'm very happy with him and he won't be beaten on the score of fitness.
'His trial last Friday at Rosehill was everything I wanted to see from him. He jumped and put himself on the speed. He wanted to be there and that's the best version of Private Eye.
'He ran second in a Stradbroke three years ago [behind Alligator Blood] and I feel he's ready to run super again on Saturday.'
Nash Rawiller will ride Private Eye, while Jason Collett will partner Golden Mile for James Cummings.
An EPIC finish in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup sees Joliestar nab them right on the line to take her third Group 1! 🤩@cwallerracing @mcacajamez@BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD pic.twitter.com/9AimF9fMu7 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025
Briefly retired to start a breeding career, Golden Mile was gelded after being injured at stud and the Group One winner returned to racing in March before catching the eye when third to Joliestar in the Group One Kingsford Smith Cup (1,300m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
'It'd be a great story for Golden Mile, who has come back from stud duties and he's been warming to a win,' said Cummings, who was this week announced as the newest addition to the Hong Kong training roster. 'He was excellent [last start] and he's been building up to that.
'A bit over a month ago he screamed home for third in the Victory Stakes and that had him back in the form he was 12 months ago, just prior to him going to stud.'
Other leading chances in the Stradbroke Handicap are War Machine and Rise At Dawn – who are both trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes – veteran Rothfire, who will be ridden by James McDonald, and Robusto, who is trained by Bjorn Baker.
The Stradbroke Handicap is one of two races from Brisbane being simulcast for betting by the Jockey Club before Saturday's Sha Tin meeting.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Royal Ascot is ‘heaven on Earth' for shock winner Cercene's trainer
Trainer Joe Murphy and jockey Gary Carroll celebrate after Cercene's win in the Coronation Stakes. Photo: Reuters Cercene and Time for Sandals brought smiles to the faces of bookmakers on the fourth day of Royal Ascot on Friday, springing huge shocks in the two Group One races. Cercene was at 33-1 the longest price winner ever in the Coronation Stakes, showing real grit under Gary Carroll to battle back to overcome French favourite Zarigana. For Carroll and trainer Joe Murphy, who had only had one previous runner at the meeting, it was easily their most prestigious winner and comes on arguably the biggest stage. 'This is 50 years of work, that's what it is, of love and care, and all for the owners we have, all our people, it's just a whole group of people together,' said Murphy, who has been training since 1977. 'This is heaven on Earth.' CERCENE defies the odds to win the Coronation Stakes, under the mount of G.F. Carroll for trainer Joseph G. Murphy. Congratulations to connections. — Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2025 For Carroll, it was his third Royal Ascot winner but first ever Group One winner anywhere and due reward for flying back after riding in Ireland on Thursday. 'Hugely good horses are very hard to come by and sometimes only one comes along in a lifetime and I guess mine has,' he said. Harry Eustace has got a real taste now for Group One races at Royal Ascot. After breaking his duck on Tuesday when Docklands won the Queen Anne Stakes, he added a second success in the Commonwealth Cup with Time For Sandals, a shock 25-1 winner. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 'I don't know, it has not landed yet,' said Eustace of his astonishing week. 'You have to be very careful with Ascot – if you get your hopes up it can bite you back.' The first Group 1 of the day, The Commonwealth Cup, goes the way of TIME FOR SANDALS, ridden by Richard Kingscote and trained by @H_Eustace. Congratulations to the connections! — Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2025 For his father James, who Harry took over from, the two Group One triumphs were 'magic'. 'It is so wonderful,' said Eustace senior, who also enjoyed success at Royal Ascot. 'We tried to get Harry to go to university, we succeeded initially and he went to Edinburgh. 'He had two good years and a lot of fun before he dropped out and then took off for Australia and the racing bug bit.' For jockey Richard Kingscote it was a seventh Royal Ascot winner, his first Group One, and ended a losing run of 67 rides at the meeting. Richard Kingscote returns after winning the Commonwealth Cup on Time For Sandals. 'This means an awful lot,' said Kingscote, who is believed to be in the mix for a return to Hong Kong next season after a short stint as injury cover earlier this year. 'I have had some nice horses but this will do the world of good. 'I am delighted to ride a good winner for Harry, he is a gentleman, it is a happy yard.' The race had looked set up to end trainer Charlie Appleby's three-year losing run at the meeting but once again it ended in disappointment – hot favourite Shadow Of Light never featured. Willie Mullins, who is normally associated with the Cheltenham Festival winners enclosure, had quite a day. Ryan Moore boots home Ethical Diamond at Royal Ascot. The 68-year-old Irish training legend began the day in the Royal Procession, his wife Jackie presented a trophy, and then he welcomed home his 11th Royal Ascot winner. Ryan Moore recorded his 91st Royal Ascot winner as he guided Ethical Diamond home to an impressive victory in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes, just months after he finished fourth in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. 'It is wonderful,' said Mullins. 'These are fantastic days. 'Jackie said 'let us just enjoy it' and to have a winner, well it is the cherry on top of the cake, is it not?' VENETIAN SUN wins The Albany Stakes! @CliffordleexLee wins for @karl_burke, congratulations to Tony Bloom & Ian Mcalvey. #RoyaalAscot — Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 20, 2025 Venetian Sun won the Group Three Albany Stakes to end Aidan O'Brien's hopes of a sweep of the two-year-old races this week. Trainer Karl Burke had described the week so far as 'savage', but he had a beaming smile on his face as he walked back to the winners' enclosure. 'A very special filly – never had a two-year-old filly like her. She has been kicking Group horses out of the way at home,' said Burke, who previously won the Albany in 2020 with Dandalla. Venetian Sun, co-owned by Tony Bloom, owner of Premier League side Brighton, was a second Royal Ascot winner for jockey Clifford Lee. 'It is very hard to get a winner here, you think you come here with a real chance and find you fall short,' he said. 'Mr Burke though gives me plenty of ammunition and this one delivered.'
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Matthew Poon gets chance on Packing Hermod: ‘Everybody thought Manfred's horse was going to run'
Jockey Matthew Poon Ming-fai will get his chance aboard the in-form Packing Hermod in Sunday's Group Three Premier Cup (1,400m) – something trainer Francis Lui Kin-wai has put down to the absence of the Manfred Man Ka-leung-trained Lucky Sweynesse. While Packing Hermod will carry 126lb in the Premier Cup, the presence of the 127-rated Lucky Sweynesse would have seen the four-year-old assigned the minimum weight of 115lb. 'Everybody thought Manfred Man's horse was going to run, so everybody thought the other horses would be carrying a light weight. We picked the jockey early and I think that's why Zac [Purton] didn't pick this horse,' said Lui. It was Purton in the saddle for Packing Hermod's last-start course-and-distance victory in Class Two, while Joao Moreira did the steering when the son of Rubick saluted in similar style two starts ago. That pair of successes has driven Packing Hermod to a rating of 107 and improved his record to six wins from 10 starts, with Lui confident now is the time to throw his charge into Group company for the first time. 'This horse keeps improving and I think next season he will be even better again,' said Lui of Packing Hermod, who Poon will partner out of barrier seven. Fresh after a few days holidaying on the mainland, Lui is preparing for a busy Sunday at Sha Tin and the veteran handler boasts a third of the Premier Cup field. Copartner Prance and Patch Of Theta complete the trainer's hand in the season's penultimate Group contest, with Patch Of Theta looking to repeat his success in January's Group Three Chinese Club Challenge Cup (1,400m). Rated 98 when carrying 115lb from outside the handicap in that triumph, Patch Of Theta now finds himself lugging 128lb off a mark of 109. 'I think the 1,400m is good for him and I just hope the pace is fast enough for him to travel. A lot will depend on the race situation,' said Lui. Smart win, Patch Of Theta! 🫡 Francis Lui's Hong Kong International Sale graduate could be Stewards' Cup bound after his smashing G3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup victory on New Year's Day at Sha Tin... @KarisTeetan #LuckyStart | #LoveRacing | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) January 2, 2025 Andrea Atzeni rides Patch Of Theta and Copartner Prance will be partnered by Keagan de Melo, while Purton reunites with Group One victor Beauty Eternal after the John Size-trained galloper's improved showing in last month's Group Three Lion Rock Trophy (1,600m). Rounding out the Premier Cup field are Victor The Winner, Invincible Sage, Happy Together, reigning champion Mugen and Taj Dragon. Lui is also well represented in Sunday's other Group Three, the Premier Plate (1,800m), but neither Hong Kong Derby hero Cap Ferrat or Chancheng Glory had much luck with the barrier gods. Dropping significantly in distance after running third behind Voyage Bubble in last month's Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m), Cap Ferrat and rider Hugh Bowman must contend with gate nine and Lui is approaching the race with uncertainty. 'It's hard to say how he will go but I'm a little bit worried about the draw,' said the trainer. A half-length second behind Pray For Mir in the recent Lion Rock Trophy, Chancheng Glory jumps from gate 12 under Luke Ferraris.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong flavour in Ascot Gold Cup but Boniface Ho's Wonder Legend will have work cut out against big guns
The Royal meeting is in full swing at Ascot. Photo: Reuters There will be a Hong Kong flavour to Thursday's Group One Ascot Gold Cup (3,991m) at Royal Ascot but local owner Boniface Ho Ka-kui will no doubt be realistic about the chances of Wonder Legend in a race packed with crack stayers. Trained by James Ferguson with Daniel Muscutt to take the ride, Wonder Legend brings winning form into the race but finds himself on the fifth line of betting in overseas fixed-odds markets at around $34. Leading the way is the Aidan O'Brien-trained Illinois at $2.75, while Godolphin's Trawlerman, runner-up to the great Kyprios in this race a year ago, sits at $3.5. Victorious in the Group Two Queen's Vase (2,800m) at Royal Ascot a year ago, Illinois enters the race off a first-up triumph in the Group Three Ormonde Stakes (2,700m) at Chester last month. The 216th running of The Gold Cup will see a new champion stayer crowned and eight have been declared for Thursday's Royal Ascot highlight including ILLINOIS, TRAWLERMAN, SWEET WILLIAM, and CANDELARI: 🏇Coltrane 🏇Dubai Future 🏇Sweet William 🏇Trawlerman 🏇Wonder Legend 🏇Yashin… — Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 17, 2025 'You never know for sure whether they will stay the Gold Cup trip until you try it,' said O'Brien of Illinois, who has never raced beyond 3,000m but did win comfortably when tackling that trip in last October's Group Two Prix Chaudenay. 'Once you go beyond two miles you're entering unknown territory. But we always thought he would stay and we've been delighted with him at home over the last few weeks.' The battle between O'Brien's Kyprios and Trawlerman up the Ascot straight in this historic Group One had the crowd in awe of the courage of both horses last year, with Trawlerman failing by just a length after leading throughout. The John and Thady Gosden-trained Trawlerman arrives here off a different preparation than last year after winning last month's Group Three Henry II Stakes (3,245m) at Sandown following his fifth in the Group Two Dubai Gold Cup (3,200m) at Meydan in April. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. 'Last year we gave him a full break from Dubai [when he was third in the Dubai Gold Cup] but this time we thought a prep [run] would suit him well,' said Thady Gosden. With another unforgettable #RoyalAscot on the horizon, rewind to last year's electrifying #GoldCup, when #Kyprios stormed back in style to reclaim his crown 👑 — Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) June 12, 2025 At $8, Trawlerman's stablemate Sweet William – who was third last year – is no forlorn hope either, especially as the record of Rob Havlin's mount indicates that he is not in the habit of letting his supporters down, though he does tend to prefer softer ground. Then there is Mickael Barzalona's mount Candelari, who sits on the third line of betting at $4.50. He cannot boast the hardbitten profile of the usual Gold Cup winner, having only started his career last December, and is also looking to become the first French-trained winner since Westerner in 2005. But he does come from the hugely in-form Chantilly stable of Francis-Henri Graffard and he was mighty impressive when accelerating clear of eight rivals to win last month's Group One Prix Vicomtesse Vigier (3,100m) on slow ground at Longchamp. 'He really wants the good, fast ground we will get at Ascot,' said Graffard. But like Illinois, Candelari – who runs in the famous green and red silks of the late Aga Khan – now needs to prove himself at this famously stamina-sapping trip.
