Private Eye favored in Missile Stakes

Through his 43-race career in Australia, which began in the summer of 2020, the 8-year-old Private Eye has consistently performed well after layoffs both short and long. A gelding, Private Eye returned from a four-month layoff to win a Group 3 in August 2021 and won a Group 2 in September 2023 after a gap of more than four months.

On Friday, Private Eye will be favored to win the seventh group stakes of his career in the Group 2 Missile Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, his first major start since a third-place finish by 1 3/4 lengths in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in Brisbane on June 14.

Private Eye, trained by Joe Pride, is as well known for his losses in lucrative races as his wins. Private Eye was second in the $9.3 million Everest Stakes at six furlongs at Randwick in 2022, and he was sixth in last year’s running in October, which was worth $13.3 million and is the world’s richest sprint.

For his comeback on Friday, Private Eye was second of eight in a schooling race, or barrier trial, at 4 1/2 furlongs at Warwick Farms Racecourse in Sydney on July 25. Horses of all ability often appear in schooling races before returning from layoffs in Australia.

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In the $195,090 Missile Stakes, Private Eye was the early favorite at 8-5 in a field of 10 that includes 3-1 General Salute and 5-1 Robusto. Private Eye often races as a stalker and will be ridden by Nash Rawiller, who has been aboard for the gelding’s last three races. Last December, Private Eye won the Grade 3 Festival Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney with Rawiller aboard.

General Salute, who frequently races as a closer, has won 3 of 11 starts. He was third in the Group 3 Healy Stakes at six furlongs at Eagle Farm on June 28, closing from 10th of 12 to lose by 1 1/2 lengths. General Salute has won 3 of 7 starts at six furlongs.

Robusto, winless in six career starts at six furlongs, won the Winter Challenge Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on July 19 for his eighth win in 39 starts.

The Missile Stakes is the eighth race on a 10-race program that begins at 9:30 p.m. Eastern.

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