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.

Advertisement

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.

  

Advertisment

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
MM Adelaide Yearling Sale Session 1 $62,500
Seller: Ambergate Farm Scone NSW
Buyer: Proven Thoroughbreds/Pride Thoroughbreds/Pride Thoroughbreds/Pride Thoroughbreds
2
3
Robusto
- 5g Churchill (IRE) x She's Clean (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Ms W Costin 54
Churchill
Inglis September (Early) Online Sale $160,000
Seller: Owners
Buyer: Darby Bloodstock
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
More Reading...
In-Demand Stallions Feature in NZB Weanling Sale Catalogue
The catalogue for the 2025 NZB National Weanling Sale features the progeny of a broad range of sires, from proven topliners to exciting up-and-comers as well as the brand-new kid on the block, Profondo.
Al Maher's Private Eye a Class Above in Gilgai Stakes
Twelve months after a career-high win in the Group 1 Epsom Hcp, the 5yo Al Maher gelding Private Eye scored a barnstorming victory in Saturday's Group II Gilgai Stakes (1200m) down the straight at Flemington.
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Emirates Park are committed to giving their young sire Tassort every opportunity to succeed in a joint venture with Newgate Farm and they’re no strangers to success at the business of creating a successful Group I producing stallion that can stand the test of time.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
G3 Fred Best Showdown for Quality Colts – Rosemont vs Yulong
The rescheduled $300,000 Group III BRC Fred Best Classic (1350m) brings stakes racing to a Wednesday this week with a field of 17 to go around at Doomben and at the head of the market is a pair of quality colts.
Best On Breeding
It is time to pay homage to the Emirates Park Stud stalwart Al Maher with his most accomplished son, Private Eye, striving to break a year-long drought when defending his title in the $1,000,000 Group II Yarraman Park The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Private Eye Puts Them to the Sword in Nature Strip
The Joe Pride-trained Private Eye continued his rise up the ranks of Australia's best sprinters when putting a talented field to the sword in the $3,000,000 Nature Strip Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.