On this day for the past few years, Joe Pride’s Private Eye has taken part in the Everest, having finished second, third and sixth respectively, but connections decided on Melbourne this year where the 8yo took his earnings soaring past $12.6m with an easy victory in the Group 3 MRC Moonga Stakes (1400m).
With regular jockey Nash Rawiller at Caulfield to ride the favourite, Private Eye jumped away from barrier eight in the nine-horse field with Rawiller allowing him to slowly work forward where he sat in second behind leader Willaidow.
With the tempo always going to suit those who had settled handy, Private Eye ambled up the leader just before the home turn as Peter Snowden’s last start Listed Paris Lane Stakes winner Media World commenced his run around the outside.
With Private Eye kicking clear, Nash gave a quick look over his outside shoulder to see who if anyone was there to challenge, but there wasn't.
Private Eye extended was ease, pulling clear to win by a length and a half from Warnie (IRE) who had come along closer the inside for second, with Group 1 performer Steparty improving on his last start effort to work into third.
Proven Thoroughbreds’ Jamie Walter was effusive in his praise for Private Eye.
“It was a very easy watch. He’s a lovely horse, I get so much pleasure and I’m sure Joe and all the staff do back home, whenever he races, let alone wins.
“It was a long time ago. He's eight years old, it was in Adelaide. Joe had the half-brother that went pretty well. He was a pretty attractive horse, strong, not that big. But who knows at that yearling stage what they're going to evolve into? He's just been an absolute colossus.”
As for where he may head next, Walter was non-committal, suggesting that Joe Pride would make that decision.
“Realistically, I think he's finding that top level just a touch too sharp for him now. I'm not the trainer who makes those decisions, so it'll be up to him.
“This was a beautiful race for him, he was very well weighted. We might aim for a division below.”
Having been his regular rider for the last few seasons, Rawiller could not have been more complimentary about the 8yo.
“He’s a beautiful old fella, I feel unfortunate I wasn’t able to ride him more earlier in his career but at the same time I’m very fortunate to have had a lot to do with him late in his career. He never lets us down, he’s just an old marvel.”
“I could’ve seen him running very well in The Everest, I really could’ve.
“He’s loving his racing, he’s having a few easy kills, and Joe will win another good race with him, don’t worry about that.”
“I jumped good, I went to come back and I actually had to press the button to get him to go forward because it wasn’t going to work out.
“At the end of the day, if I got caught three-wide, it wouldn't have worried me.
“He’s a horse that likes doing his own thing, he doesn’t like being dictated to, being annoyed, he’s done the rest. He’s got a class on them and it’s always a good thrill when you see it.”
Recording his 14th individual win, and eighth at black type level, Private Eye has amassed earnings of $12,643,285 from his 47 starts – not a bad return on investment from the $62,500 that Proven Thoroughbreds and Joe Pride parted ways with at the Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale a few years back.
Bred by Kerrie Tibbey's Goodwood Farm, Private Eye is clearly the best performed runner from four winners from five to the races out of the Shamardal mare Confidential Queen, who Tibbey had managed to secure for just $13,000 from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2015 Inglis Broodmare Sale carrying a positive to Star Witness.
Confidential Queen’s current 3yo, a Shalaa filly named Confidentiality, made her debut this week with a pleasing third for trainer Joe Pride at Hawkesbury.
From the same family as Champion Sire Snitzel, at Saturday's Group 1 Thousand Guineas winner Ole Dancer, Confidential Queen's has since produced a filly by Darley’s Anamoe last season and is due to foal again to the same sire this coming season.
Private Eye is the best of 40 stakes winners for the Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Al Maher who covered his final book of mares in 2022 before passing away at the age of 23 in September 2024.
