Joliestar and Private Eye to tackle crucial barrier trials ahead of Group 1 Brisbane tilt

Star sprinters Private Eye and Joliestar will step out for crucial barrier trials before heading to Brisbane to contest the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup next week.

Private Eye and Joliestar are set to have important trial hit-outs before venturing to Brisbane.

Joliestar and Private Eye will finally get to contest their crucial barrier trial even if it’s on a Polytrack surface ahead of the Group 1 $1m Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm next week.

Chris Waller, trainer of Joliestar, and Joe Pride with Private Eye have had to dodge Sydney’s wet weather and be flexible with their sprinter’s preparations after barrier trials scheduled for Canterbury on Monday and Tuesday were washed out.

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Both sprinters are entered for Rosehill grass track trials on Friday but with heavy rain forecast for Sydney over the next 48 hours, that trial session must also be in extreme doubt.

The Australian Turf Club has come up with a contingency plan to have barrier trials on the all-weather Polytrack surface at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning and possibly for Randwick on Friday.

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Waller said it was important for dual Group 1 winner Joliestar to have a barrier trial as she has not raced since her second to Jimmysstar (subsequent Doomben 10,000 winner Sunshine In Paris was third) in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick on April 19.

“I think she will trial on the Polytrack at Warwick Farm on Thursday,’’ Waller said.

“It’s all over the place with the weather at the moment but she needs to have the barrier trial for next week.’’

Joliestar is the $3.30 favourite for the Kingsford Smith Cup Picture: George Sal

Private Eye, the winner of nearly $12m prizemoney, is resuming in the Kingsford Smith Cup and Pride said it is also important the sprinter has another barrier trial this week.

“I’ve always planned for Private Eye to have three barrier trials before the Brisbane race,’’ Pride said.

“If we don’t get to trial at Rosehill on Friday, I’ve got no issue if Private Eye has to run in a Polytrack trial.

“The horse is great, I’m really happy with him, and he will be ready for the Kingsford Smith (Cup) after we get that trial into him this week.”

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In early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on May 31, Joliestar is the $3.30 favourite ahead of Giga Kick ($4.50) with Private Eye at $15.

Also scheduled to trial this week is the unbeaten Michael Freedman-trained Aerodrome and Waller’s boom colt Regulated Affair.

The promising two-year-olds are due to clash in the Group 2 $1m BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) next week with Aerodrome the $6 equal favourite with the Team Hawkes-trained Gallo Nero and Regulated Affair at $11.

Originally published as Joliestar and Private Eye to tackle crucial barrier trials ahead of Group 1 Brisbane tilt