Joe Pride will weigh up his options until Friday morning before confirming whether Missile Stakes favourite Private Eye lines up at Randwick or heads to the trials instead.
Currently the clear standout in the field of ten, Private Eye has firmed in betting from $3.30 into $2.60, but an uncertain weather forecast has Pride considering a more cautious approach to his campaign start.
Randwick is already listed as a heavy 9 and with more rain predicted on Thursday, Pride admitted the risk of a bog track could change his plans, despite the Missile Stakes (1200m) being an ideal target to launch his preparation.
“I feel like he’s in for a good preparation and while I think he looks a good thing in that race, I’m not sure I want to kick him off on a really heavy track,” Pride said.
“I’ve got options. He can go in the Winx Stakes or next week he can go down and run in the P B Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.”
Pride indicated Friday’s Warwick Farm trials could be the backup plan. “There is a good chance he will be at the trials on Friday instead but I will make a decision on Friday morning.”
The trainer said rain on raceday was his biggest concern, as tracks often deteriorate much faster when rain hits during the meeting itself.
“Wet tracks to run on are so different when the rain is three or four days before a race as opposed to rain on race days,” he said.
“Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to wait and say, ‘oh, I’m going to pull him out now’. He has to go to the trials on Friday if he doesn’t race.”
The Missile Stakes opens the black-type calendar in Sydney for 2025-26, with the first Group 1, the Winx Stakes (1400m), just two weeks later.
If Private Eye does take his place this weekend, Pride expects him to show his class against a field lacking his credentials.
“Could any other horse in that race do what he’s done in his life?” Pride said.
“He is clearly the best horse in the race and he’s not even penalised for it because it’s set weights and penalties and he hasn’t won a Group One in the last twelve months or so.”
To place a wager on the Missile Stakes, Winx Stakes or P B Lawrence Stakes, check out Australia’s leading bookmakers here.
