Taking his earnings past $12.3m for connections with his thirteenth career win, and seventh at black type level, Proven Thoroughbreds and Joe Pride’s gallant war-horse Private Eye (Al Maher) recorded and easy watch victory in the Gr2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes on Saturday at Caulfield.
Sent to Melbourne after the missing the washed out Group 2 Missile Stakes meeting last Saturday, the Group 1-winning 8yo gelding tackled a smart field in which six of his eight competitors were previous Group 1 winners.
Straight to the lead after jumping from gate seven and crossing the field, jockey Nash Rawiller was in a controlling position from the get go aboard the favourite.
With the Ben, Will & JD Hayes trained Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) settling not that far off the leader, tracking his every move, Private Eye simply packed too much punch and as the home turn was reached, Nash asked for an effort and Private Eye responded.
While Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s Group 1-winning mare Desert Lightning came along the inside to finish second, the margin was two lengths, with a further half length back to Here To Shock.
Having just her second Australian run off the back of a debut effort in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap in the Autumn, Yulong’s Group 1-winning international Ghostzapper mare Moira was solid to the line, finishing fourth.
While the winning margin was significant, it’s worth noting that second through to eighth were separated by a little under two lengths.
With residual fitness from his Queensland winter effort in the Stradbroke, Pride knew Private Eye was spot on for his run.
"It was a little bit like In Flight when she won here," Pride said.
"When I saw him get off the float, I grew in confidence. When your horses travel away, you need to see them travel well, and he looked magnificent.
"He's an amazing athlete and that was his 13th interstate trip.
"He's very tough and he carried a good bit of residual fitness from Queensland.
"It was only his second start for 2025. It would easily be the lightest he has been raced in some time and maybe that has got something to do with his good form at the moment."
With the Group 1 Memsie Stakes an option for Private Eye, Pride will keep his eyes on the weather.
"I wouldn't rule out coming back for the Memsie, but there are plenty of races there in Sydney also," Pride said.
"We'll hopefully pick something off and hopefully on a better track than we got today."
Overcoming a pre-race scare after Private Eye knocked his head in the gates, Rawiller was confident Private Eye was ok to race.
"Another horse got a bit agitated, and he took a dive and hit his head," Rawiller said.
"I backed him out and got him checked, but I was confident he was well enough to race, but I just wanted to double check.
"He was really switched on today and he travelled really well from the time he left the gates.
"It's full credit to the team at home as he's got his zest for racing."
Bred by Goodwood Farm, Private Eye’s record now stand at 13 wins and nine placed efforts from 44 starts, with $12,399,685 in earnings!
Purchased for $62,5000 from the Ambergate Farm draft (as agent for Goodwood Farm) at the Magic Millions Adelaide yearling Sale by Proven Thoroughbreds and Joe Pride Racing, Private Eye is clearly the best performed runner from four winners out of the Shamardal mare Confidential Queen.
Interestingly, the same buying combination secured Private Eye’s Shalaa half-brother at Inglis Easter a few years back, going to $100,000 for King’s Secret, a promsing galloper with four wins from just eight.
Confidential Queen produced a filly by Darley’s Anamoe last season and is due to foal again to the same sire this coming season.
Private Eye is one of 40 stakes winners for the Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Al Maher who covered his final book of mares in 2022 before passing away at the age of 23 in September 2024.
