Private Eye chases history in Stradbroke Handicap
The Joseph Pride-trained galloper will look to defy a big weight and a long break at Eagle Farm on Saturday
Sydney trainer Joseph Pride is undeterred by the challenges facing Private Eye when the outstanding miler tackles the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1,400m) at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, Australia on Saturday.
Assigned top weight of 57kg (125.6lb), Private Eye will resume after a 182-day break and will have to defy history as he attempts to become the first horse to carry 57kg or more to victory in the Stradbroke Handicap since Rough Habit successfully carried 58.5kg in 1992.
Additionally, winning the Stradbroke Handicap first up is a rare achievement after an extended break with Crawl famously bucking the trend by triumphing in 2001 off a 56-day break.
'Records are made to be broken and I don't think first up is what it used to be,' said Pride, a former protégé of 12-time Hong Kong champion trainer John Size.
'I've also given Private Eye four barrier trials, I'm very happy with him and he won't be beaten on the score of fitness.
'His trial last Friday at Rosehill was everything I wanted to see from him. He jumped and put himself on the speed. He wanted to be there and that's the best version of Private Eye.
'He ran second in a Stradbroke three years ago [behind Alligator Blood] and I feel he's ready to run super again on Saturday.'
Nash Rawiller will ride Private Eye, while Jason Collett will partner Golden Mile for James Cummings.
An EPIC finish in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup sees Joliestar nab them right on the line to take her third Group 1! 🤩@cwallerracing @mcacajamez@BrisRacingClub @RaceQLD pic.twitter.com/9AimF9fMu7 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2025
Briefly retired to start a breeding career, Golden Mile was gelded after being injured at stud and the Group One winner returned to racing in March before catching the eye when third to Joliestar in the Group One Kingsford Smith Cup (1,300m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday.
'It'd be a great story for Golden Mile, who has come back from stud duties and he's been warming to a win,' said Cummings, who was this week announced as the newest addition to the Hong Kong training roster. 'He was excellent [last start] and he's been building up to that.
'A bit over a month ago he screamed home for third in the Victory Stakes and that had him back in the form he was 12 months ago, just prior to him going to stud.'
Other leading chances in the Stradbroke Handicap are War Machine and Rise At Dawn – who are both trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes – veteran Rothfire, who will be ridden by James McDonald, and Robusto, who is trained by Bjorn Baker.
The Stradbroke Handicap is one of two races from Brisbane being simulcast for betting by the Jockey Club before Saturday's Sha Tin meeting.
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