Pride declares sprinter has his Eye in

After watching Giga Kick run past Private Eye in a recent barrier trial and space him by almost four lengths, the latter’s trainer Joe Pride turned away utterly satisfied.

The hitout was never about the finishing result for his laidback sprinter, it was only ever about the start.

“The only thing you need to watch for in a Private Eye trial is if he jumps out of the gates well, then it’s a good trial,” Pride said.

“When he’s going well, he pings out of the gates and then he just chills.

“He’s a lovely, relaxed horse who knows when it’s race day and I’m happy with that.”

In that vein, Pride is heading to Randwick brimming with confidence as Private Eye prepares for a first-up showdown with 2022 The Everest winner Giga Kick in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m).

The latter is a $2.90 favourite while Private Eye has been a slight market drifter out to $6.

Both sprinters boast outstanding fresh records, and Pride has warned punters to under-estimate last year’s Everest third placegetter at their peril.

“What you saw between him and Giga Kick in the trial will look very different on Saturday,” Pride said.

“If you showed 100 people that trial, 99 of them would tell you Giga Kick would beat Private Eye. I’ve got a different idea of it.

“He’s a good horse and he will run terrific. I know when this horse is going good, he makes it very obvious, and he’s going good.”

Jay Ford will be having his third race ride on Private Eye, although it has been a while between drinks with the hoop last partnering him three years ago.

Pride wants to see his charge put into the race from a midfield draw and says on paper, the speed looks strong enough for him to take a trail.

“He will bounce out and be positive,” Pride said.

“We don’t want to drag him back, he hates being dragged back Private Eye. He will be up there in the contest and Jay can just get him comfortable.”

Pride will also saddle up Dragonstone in the Concorde, reporting the gelding has returned in good order and can run a “cheeky race”.