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Jockey Jay Ford reckons Private Eye is on target for another The Everest tilt

Two-time The Everest placegetter Private Eye will make his return in Saturday’s Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick. Plus, get Mitch’s horses to follow from Saturday’s Rosehill meeting.

Mitch Cohen
5 min read
September 2, 2024 - 7:00AM
Private Eye is hoping to run in his third straight The Everest. Picture: Bradley Photos
Private Eye is hoping to run in his third straight The Everest. Picture: Bradley Photos

Private Eye has placed in two Everests since the last time Jay Ford rode him in a race but the Group 1 jockey is eager to play a big part as the Joe Pride-trained sprinter begins his latest quest for glory this week.

Ford won a Group 3 Show County Quality on Private Eye in the spring of 2021 and his last ride under race conditions came at his next start in the Theo Marks Stakes of that year.

Since then Private Eye has built a reputation as one of Australia’s top line sprinters.

He was a narrow runner up to Giga Kick in his first crack at The Everest in 2022 while he was just three quarters of a length off stablemate Think About It when Pride won the race last year.

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Connections are hopeful Private Eye will get an opportunity to have a third crack at the $20 million The Everest next month at Royal Randwick.

The gun son of Al Maher will get his chance to stake his claim for a slot this Saturday when he returns with Ford aboard in the Group 3 $1 million Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick.

“He has run twice in The Everest and run a third and a second so that speaks for itself,” Ford said.

“He is a quality horse and obviously the team will be looking for another slot for him.

“Hopefully he can put his best foot forward on the weekend and get the ball rolling.”

Jay Ford links up with Private Eye in the Concorde Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images
Jay Ford links up with Private Eye in the Concorde Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

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The Concorde Stakes won’t just be an Everest audition for Private Eye with past winner Giga Kick and Group 1 gun Bella Nipotina also poised to line up in the sprint.

Private Eye comes into the race off a pair of solid trial performances with Ford aboard.

“I trialled him up last prep and these couple of trials and I think he is going really good,” Ford said.

“He is a happy horse. Joe is happy with him.

“He has trialled quite sharp in his trial although he has never been a great trialler, that’s just him.

“It’s obviously quite a strong field but the way he is trialling up, I expect him to run really well for us.”

It makes up part of a massive Randwick card which will feature the Group 2 $300,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m), Group 2 $300,000 Tramway Stakes (1400m) and Group 2 $300,000 Furious Stakes (1200m).

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

AGITA (4th, Race 1)
The David Payne-trained galloper looked the winner halfway down the straight before peaking on his run. He was second up stepping up from 1400m to 1800m and should be ready to win next start.

UNUSUAL LEGACY (3rd, Race 5)
This Chris Waller-trained galloper has always shown a bit of talent and looked good running home behind Too Much Caviar after racing without a lot of room early in the straight. I will be with him next start.

TROPICUS (3rd, Race 6)
He was a clear last in the early stages before hitting the line strongly in his first run back from a spell. The Victorian raider looks in for a great prep and should improve as he gets over more ground.

CEOLWULF (1st, Race 8)
Outside the two three-year-olds Autumn Glow and Storm Boy, this guy’s win was among the best on the card. He’s already a Group 1 placegetter and can play a big part in the spring.

OVERRIDING (6th, Race 9)

She ended up last in a slowly run race and had a wall of horses in front of her in the early part of the straight before making up good ground late. She’s a stakes quality mare and looks in for a good prep.

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STEWARDS SAY

ARTS (10th, Race 1): Disappointing in the manner he closed off the race in the home straight. Was found to be 2/5 lame in the off foreleg.

UP AND UNDER (10th, Race 5): Hung in significantly and lost its action prior to the 300m. James McDonald was concerned he went amiss. No abnormalities were found.

GATSBY’S (4th, Race 6): James McDonald felt a firmer surface resulted in the colt not performing as well as recent starts. A post-race veterinary examination found no abnormalities.

BERKSHIRE SHADOW (6th, Race 8): Was badly held up for clear running shortly after the 100m. Was found to have sustained a laceration to the off-fore cannon post-race.

SIR RAVANELLI (8th, Race 10): Was found to have sustained a laceration in the off hock and was 1/5 lame in that leg. Also found to be 2/5 lame in the off foreleg.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

CRUNCH TIME

STORM BOY (1st, Race 6): Early splits of 10.43 and 11.08 seconds helped the boom colt gain control of the San Domenico. He still had enough in the tank to run home in 33.31 seconds for his last 600m.

TROPICUS (Race 6): Settled a clear last in the run before making up a stack of ground in the straight. His sizzling last 600m of 32.82 included sectionals of 10.98, 10.74 and 11.10.

AUTUMN GLOW (Race 7): She remained unbeaten after surging home from a midfield position. It was a sustained effort over the final 600m, clocking a race best 33.80 seconds.

CEOLWULF (Race 8): Made his run in the three-wide line before unleashing a powerful sprint to run the fast closing four furlongs of the race. His last 600m of 33.37 seconds was impressive.

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TRACK TALK

“I knew my fate when I cantered off into the gates and we went around lovely and relaxed, in a good rhythm. I knew we were on.” — Adam Hyeronimus on Storm Boy.

“We’d love to get that Group One for him because he’s a Group 1 colt and if we can tick that box, that gives us all the options.” — Adrian Bott on Storm Boy.

“She is a very, very serious horse.” — Chris Waller on Autumn Glow.

“She is still learning her craft which is exciting again. It was a brilliant win by her.” — Kerrin McEvoy on Autumn Glow.

“To see him do something like that so early in the spring, it is hard not to get excited.” — Joe Pride on Ceolwulf.

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YOU CAN BET ON IT

RACE 6
Storm Boy and Gatsby’s held just under 85 per cent of all win bet outlays. One TAB punter had a $7000 win bet on Storm Boy at $2.30, while there were multiple $3500 bets at $2.20.

RACE 7
There was big money on Autumn Glow, who dwarfed the market with over 60 per cent of all TAB outlays. Bets of $9500 and $5000 were taken at $2.05 and multiple $4000 bets at $1.90.

RACE 8
Amor Victorious was heavily backed but Ceolwulf ($3.20 on TAB fixed odds) could not be stopped. One happy punter had $4000 on the winner at $3.20, which bucked the trend with all the other big outlays on Amor Victorious.

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THE SCHEDULE
Monday: Kempsey, Wellington
Tuesday: Newcastle
Wednesday: Warwick Farm
Thursday: Coffs Harbour, Wagga
Friday: Wyong
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Orange, Hawkesbury, Mendooran
Sunday: Gundagai, Mudgee

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

RON DUFFICY’S ROSEHILL GARDENS SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY
Another week of serious performances starting off with the return of Storm Boy who left his doubters a little red faced after his brilliant return while Autumn Glow did it again looking the real deal putting away another good field appearing a dominant filly of her age winning again at only her 2nd start.

FORGET THEY RAN
Berkshire Shadow was far from wound up with plenty of improvement to come catching the eye running into dead ends late with plenty to offer.

THE BLACK BOOK
I really like Unusual Legacy going forward this campaign, he was just warming up late 1st up and will relish further while Tropicus was well beaten by Storm Boy but made up a heap of ground from a mile back indicating plenty of talent running great sectionals to the eye.

RIDE OF THE DAY
Kerrin McEvoy produced two gems from sticky draws on Matusalem and Autumn Glow. He is riding so confidently at the moment not making any mistakes.

Originally published as Jockey Jay Ford reckons Private Eye is on target for another The Everest tilt

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