Private Eye dismissed any thoughts of retirement with a resounding win in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill

A switched on Private Eye reminded race fans that form is temporary and class is permanent with a stylish win in the Group 3 Festival Stakes at Rosehill.

Private Eye returned to winning form in the Group 3 Festival Stakes at Rosehill. Picture: Bradley Photos

Private Eye shelved retirement plans and reminded everyone of his talent and class with a runaway win at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Even trainer Joe Pride was searching for answers after Private Eye snapped a 14-month winless streak when he raced away to a three length win in the Group 3 $250,000 Festival Stakes (1500m).

“This horse keeps me guessing,” Pride said.

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“I’ve seen a horse back last in and Epsom and being scrubbed along then still get up and win. I’ve seen him lead in a Lightning Stakes and finish a close second.

“People will say Nash (Rawiller) made the difference but I just think the horse switched on today.

“I don’t think it was a matter of a change of jockey necessarily but I was very happy to see him up outside the leader early because it meant he was switched on.

“In the latter half of his career that is when he’s shown speed and that is when he is at his best.

“He just hasn’t shown any this preparation and he hasn’t been in the hunt so it was great to see him do that today.”

Private Eye ($9.50) made light of his 60.5kg impost and careered away to win the Festival Stakes by a widening margin from Robusto ($21) with Xidaki ($6) running on for third.

St Lawrence was sent out the $5.50 favourite but couldn’t recover after a slow getaway and finished seventh.

Pride admitted seven-year-old gelding Private Eye’s five unplaced runs this spring had been concerning, particularly the gelding’s last start eighth behind boom sprinter Briasa in The Hunter.

He's still got it! 🙌

Private Eye and @nashhot take the G3 Festival Stakes at Rosehill!@PrideRacing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/aiTnTnIKLt

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

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“Retirement had been discussed,” Pride said.

“But the trouble I had with retirement – and I’ve had a lot of good, old horses – I generally know when they should be retired, I see signs in them.

“With Private Eye, I have not seen any signs in him. He has never looked fatigued after a run, he keeps coming through his races very well.

“I didn’t want to tip him out for a spell, either, as I couldn’t find anything wrong with him. I resorted to put him over the jumps a few times, I didn’t know what to do with him.”

Private Eye’s effort to shoulder 60.5kg has been bettered only once in the Festival Stakes in more than 60 years – Eremein win under 61kg in 2008.

Pride is hopeful Private Eye will maintain this form going into the Group 2 $2 million The Ingham (1600m) at Royal Randwick on December 11.

“He’s a class horse, he will go to The Ingham now,” Pride said. “He’s an older horse, what are we waiting for!”

Rawiller said his only plan for Private Eye was to “get the gelding travelling underneath me.”

“I didn’t want him to be out the back of the field, because when he hits that flat spot near the home turn it will be impossible for him to run them down,” Rawiller said.

"He's been a marvellous horse"

Great scenes at Rosehill when Private Eye won the Festival Stakes today!

Here's what @PrideRacing and @nashhot thought of it all.@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/iTun5tk4E4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

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“We were a little concerned about the (wet) ground but I just wanted to get him to travel.

“The more I thought about it I didn’t think there was a lot of (early) speed and was able to get across outside the leader fairly easily.

“This horse has got every excuse in the book but he will take a lot of confidence from this win. I will definitely be staying with him in The Ingham.”

Private Eye improved his record to 12 wins (and eight placings) from 41 starts and took his career earnings to a staggering $11,859,185 to be 11th on all-time prizemoney list behind Winx with $26,451,175.

“This is a long way from the best race Private Eye has won but it was very satisfying to see him do that today,” Pride said.

“I like to think I have a good handle on my horses, I’ve got a small team, but this horse has had me scratching my head his whole career.

“But he has been a great horse for the stable and we are very privileged to have him.”

Private Eye is now on track to become only the third horse this century to complete the Festival Stakes-The Ingham (formerly Villiers Stakes) double after Monton (2011) and Ike’s Dream (2004),

In latest TAB Fixed Odds betting for The Ingham, Private Eye has firmed into equal second favouritism with Port Lockroy at $4.50 behind The Big Dance and The Gong winner Gringotts at $2.50.

Originally published as Private Eye dismissed any thoughts of retirement with a resounding win in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill