One of Australia’s best known and most popular racehorses will compete in a special tribute to Jai Arrow on Saturday.
Private Eye’s trainer Joe Pride, a fanatical South Sydney NRL fan, and owners Proven Thoroughbreds have been moved by the plight of Arrow who retired recently with a devastating motor neurone disease diagnosis.
Former Rabbitohs and Queensland State of Origin star Arrow and his family will be beneficiaries regardless of where Private Eye finishes in the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
A minimum of $14,150 will be donated to Arrow’s family if Private Eye, who is rated a $6.50 chance with bookmakers, wins the prestigious Group 1.
And if Private Eye finishes anywhere else, at least $5000 will be donated.
“Like everyone in the sporting community, we have been touched by the plight Jai Arrow is facing,” Tom Walter from Proven Thoroughbreds said.
“It really is an awful disease and puts everything into perspective.
“We have been lucky enough to race a horse that has earned an incredible amount of prizemoney and feel now is the time some of it go towards a worthy cause.
“With Joe Pride being an ardent Bunnies fan, as well as some of the ownership group, it made sense to give back in this way.”
Hear from Joe Pride on Private Eye ahead of this weekend’s Kingsford Smith Cup! 🏆@PrideRacing pic.twitter.com/8Ld71Nv6Fd
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 26, 2026
Sydney trainer Pride has won 22 Group 1 races, but gets as much pleasure from seeing the Rabbitohs win.
He has been personally moved by Arrow’s plight.
“The situation with Jai is heartbreaking,” Pride said.
“Myself and all of Private Eye’s connections wish him the very best for the future.
“Rugby league is such a tribal thing, it has always given me such a great buzz watching Souths go around.
“My Dad grew up in Redfern, so I probably had no choice but to follow the Bunnies.”
Mighty sprint warrior Private Eye didn’t race in the recent Group 1 Doomben 10,000 because of a rain-affected track in the lead-up.
But, even as it rained cats and dogs in Brisbane on Thursday, Pride had no qualms about giving him a shot at the Kingsford Smith Cup.
The Eagle Farm track was in the heavy range, but with two days of no rain forecast on Friday and Saturday, track officials are hopeful it will race in the soft range.
Regardless, Pride is committed to racing Private Eye as he needs a run before next month’s Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
“Where Private Eye has struggled in the past is if there is rain on race day, he hates it,” Pride said.
“He can’t stand kickback from the track.
“But he is actually not that bad on heavy ground, if they get decent days of weather in the next couple of days he will be fine.
“I want to run him, as we went into the Stradbroke first-up last year and I reckon he was a bit underdone.”
Story courtesy of Ben Dorries – Racenet