Class Tells - Private Eye Dominant in Festival Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday November 30

When Private Eye finished a disinterested eighth in the Group II The Hunter at his most recent start, fans feared they had seen the $11 million earner for the final time.

Reunited with Nash Rawiller, the Joe Pride-trained 7-year-old gelding regained his old spark when making a one-act affair of Saturday’s Group III James Squire Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.

Given a positive ride, the son of Al Maher snapped a 63-week drought when lumping 60.5kgs to a three lengths win over Robusto (Churchill), with Xidaki (Zoustar) three-quarters of a length back in third.

Nash gets the best out of Private Eye (image Steve Hart)

With his sixth stakes win, the son of Al Maher advances his record to twelve wins, five seconds, and three thirds from 41 starts with earnings of $11,859,185.

Private Eye was a $62,500 buy for Proven Thoroughbreds/Pride Thoroughbreds out of the Ambergate Farm draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.

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Bred by Kerrie Tibbey's Goodwood Farm, Private Eye is the best of three winners from four to race for the Shamardal mare Confidential Queen, which Tibbey had purchased for $13,000 when consigned by Widden Stud to the 2015 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale.

Proven Thoroughbreds and Pride Racing went back to the well to purchase Confidential Queen's Shalaa (IRE) colt for $100,000 at the 2023 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, while a filly by the same sire fell short of her $500,000 reserve this year at Easter.

Afcter missing in 2022, Confidential Queen was covered by Anamoe in November.

  

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Race Result - James Squire Festival Stakes Gr3 1500m

Rosehill Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:30.46
1
Private Eye
- 7g Al Maher (AUS) x Confidential Queen (AUS) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: N Rawiller 60.5
Inglis May (Late) Online Sale $19,000
Seller: Gregory Mcfarlane
Buyer: Ko Thoroughbred Racing
MM Adelaide Yearling Sale $16,000
Seller: Goodwood Farm, Murrurundi, NSW
Buyer: Gregory McFarlane Racing
2
3
Robusto
- 5g Churchill (IRE) x She's Clean (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Ms W Costin 54
Churchill
3
3.7
Xidaki
- 4g Zoustar (AUS) x Athanea (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: Peter Snowden Rdr: Tommy Berry 54.5
Zoustar
4
3.8
Mighty Ulysses
- 6g Ulysses (IRE) x Token Of Love (GB) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Rdr: A Hyeronimus 58.5
5
6.5
Coastwatch
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Bullion Mansion (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Richard & Will Freedman Rdr: Regan Bayliss 54.5
6
7
St Lawrence
- 6g Redwood (GB) x Bacio Del Vinto (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: C Schofield 55
7
7.2
Kintyre
- 4g Hallowed Crown (AUS) x Mull Over (AUS) (So You Think (NZ))
Tnr: G Portelli Rdr: J R Collett 54
8
7.4
King Of The Castle
- 8g Castledale (IRE) x The Prima Donna (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Reece Jones 53
9
7.6
Chrysaor
- 4g Better Than Ready (AUS) x New Wings (AUS) (Choisir (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: K Mc Evoy 55
10
7.8
Hoo Ya Mal
- 6g Territories (IRE) x Sensationally (GB) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 57
11
8.6
Tannhauser
- 4g Dundeel (NZ) x Luqyaa (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Zac Lloyd 53
12
9.9
Uzziah
- 6g Outreach (AUS) x Heavensentme (AUS) (Holy Roman Emperor (IRE))
Tnr: Scott Aspery Rdr: J Ford 53
13
10.1
So United
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Maglissa (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: L P Beuzelin 53
14
10.1
Super Helpful
- 6g Super One (AUS) x Help (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: B Joseph & P & M Jones Rdr: Zac Wadick 53
15
11.3
So Dazzling
- 5m So You Think (NZ) x Dazzling Lady (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: A Gibbons 54
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