PRIVATE EYE gave inspiration to every aging man in Australia last weekend.
Chalking up win number 14 in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m)at Caulfield, the eight-year-old has won races in 3 states from 1100m to 1600m and has amassed $12.6million in prizemoney.
It should be noted that as a gelding he’s never had to do the dreaded bedtime routine, school pick-up, change a nappy or encounter one of those bizarre arguments where you find yourself negotiating the consumption of half a broccoli. No wonder he’s still going. Alas, this grand campaigner gave me the inspiration I needed on the weekend. My kids had a great day on Sunday. I owe PRIVATE EYE a carrot for that. He is a true marvel and one that Joe Pride and the guys at Proven Thoroughbreds, have finally worked out. It wasn’t anyone’s fault it took this long. I spend my life analysing data but this wily customer had me beat multiple times as to what he likes. At this stage of his career it’s 1400m at Group 2/Group 3 level. That said, I’d throw him into the G1 Orr Stakes in a few weeks. His times aren’t anything flash in these lower grades but that’s because he’s doing little work in the run. That should mean, he’s got some petrol left. Plus he loves the 1400m at Caulfield.
Its amazing to think this dual Everest placegetter, who used to get back and flash home has morphed himself into a frontrunning 1400m horse!
Speaking of The Everest, KA YING RISING was gifted the race. Take nothing away from the fact he travelled, battled to settle in and still won. But the fact they let him travel 3L below standard through the first 600m and then produce only the 19th fastest last 200m of the day but still win is nothing short of staggering. He was vulnerable and they should’ve tested him. His last 200m was slower than IDLE FLYER, who sat wide no cover in a mares 1600m race. I’d be following ANGEL CAPITAL out of the race especially if Chris Waller takes him to the G1 Champions Sprint. He’ll be well suited to straight racing. Just on IDLE FLYER, she can be competitive in the G1 Empire Rose. Her win was the best of the day at Randwick.
Meanwhile at Eagle Farm , SECOND SUN was beaten 2.9L in a Class 3 event, coming off a minor set back which forced him to be scratched the week prior.
But on Sunday things heated right up for Proven with CHAMPAGNE LANE scorching the turf at the Sunshine Coast. She ran a scintillating 57.48 for her 1000m BM58 victory. That time was more than 2 seconds faster than the Maiden at the same meeting. She smashed standard time by 8L and her last 200m ranked 4th for the day. But the best part is she did all of this from the front. Nothing beats a leader that runs time. She’ll be winning much better races than this and looks a real excitement machine for the team.
Finally, the Melbourne Cup picture really took shape over the weekend. It all started with SIR DELIUS being taken out by vets. Racing Victoria had to do something when multiple deaths took place over just a handful of years in the Melbourne Cup. But what happened last week could have massive implications for the entire industry. The message to the greater public is we might’ve saved SIR DELIUS’ life. How do we then explain why we’re not doing that for all horses before every race? We need to be careful we’re not painting ourselves into a corner.
Less than 24 hours later, HALF YOURS won the Caulfield Cup and ran decent overall time but it’s hard to see him winning the Melbourne Cup with an extra 2kg. I’ll go an extra yard and say his target next autumn should be the Australian Cup. For mine, the best Cup trial was RIVER OF STARS. She was the only horse that finished in the top 7 that was in the top 9 at the 600m. She can absorb high pressure due to her extensive stamina reserves, a great asset for the big one.
TENTYRIS was the best bet and the figures say he was the win of the day anywhere in the land. This is a proper colt, who will be winning Group 1 races. He faces BEIWACHT in two weeks but he can give Waller’s colt plenty down the straight. And next autumn, races like the Lightning, Newmarket and even the TJ Smith are there for him. He is top shelf.
Nic Ashman is a form expert who has developed his own times rating system to assess races. He is the host of The Beaten Favourite podcast and appears on several other racing media outlets. For a more detailed summary of the past weekend’s racing, you can listen to ‘The Monday Podcast’ episode by The Beaten Favourite HERE.