A dash of equine psychology combined with an overdue inside draw is the hoped-for key to Private Eye flipping his form and erasing Joe Pride’s unhappy memories of last year’s Russell Balding Stakes.
Private Eye hasn’t been far away in three campaign runs, including a last start sixth from a wide gate in The Everest (1200m), but Pride feels the horse’s casual attitude in the first half of his races have been costly.
“I think a component of what he is doing is psychological,” Pride said.
“Not that he isn’t finishing his races off, but he’s not taking a big enough part in the first half of the race to give himself any hope in the second half of the race.
“I am hoping from a good draw it makes a difference to him.
“I have mucked around with his gear a bit, which I haven’t changed for ages. I’ve put a set of winkers on instead of his blinkers and I’ve changed the bit in his mouth. A couple of little subtle changes to see if I can get a response out of him.”
Private Eye has drawn the rails in Saturday’s Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill, formerly known as the Winners’ Stakes.
The gelding won it in 2022 and finished runner-up to Bella Nipotina 12 months ago with stablemates Think About It and Coal Crusher third and fourth respectively.
It is a result that still smarts for Pride, given the race also offers several bonuses to horses who have contested other Sydney spring features.
“Last year was a disaster. I went in with the odds-on favourite, Think About It, and Private Eye, and it looked like I was going to clean the lot up and get all the bonuses,” he said.
“Bella Nipotina knocked me off and I ran second, third and fourth.
“It was the only thing that went wrong all last spring. I won The Shorts, I won The Everest, I won the Premiere (Stakes) and then that last leg, and she beat me.
“I thought at the time, ‘how did that old mare beat me?’ but now I can see why. She just keeps winning. She has won another three since.”
Bella Nipotina will again be out to spoil the party on Saturday, while Pride will again have three runners with Coal Crusher and Mazu joining Private Eye in the $3 million race.
He regards the other two as genuine each-way chances, but Private Eye is the class runner of his trio.
Jay Ford sticks with the seven-year-old and Pride says Private Eye is a picture of health.
“He looks magnificent, the horse,” he said.
“I’m sure he will run well. He just needs to pick up a big cheque, not a little cheque.”