Proven front and centre on Everest day!

Oct 16, 2022

Proven Thoroughbreds celebrated its biggest day on a racetrack in front of almost 50,000 racegoers at Randwick on Saturday.

Proven was represented by two runners at the 2022 Everest meeting – PRIVATE EYE in the $15 million Everest (1200m) and STOCKMAN in the $500,000 St Leger (2600m).

STOCKMAN opened our account in the best possible way with a dominant 1.8 length victory in the St Leger, a time-honoured race previously won by Guy Walter’s champion TIE THE KNOT in 2000.

The 6YO gelding’s victory has all but confirmed a start in next month’s $7.75 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington where he has been allocated 54kg.

Trainer Joe Pride plans to use the Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m) on Derby Day as a final lead up race for STOCKMAN, adopting the traditional three-day back-up into ‘The Race That Stops The Nation’.

“It’s the opportunity of a lifetime for the owners and for the horse – he’s a very honest stayer,” Pride said.

“He deserved that today and it was nice to see him put paid to them today.”

The son of TAVISTOCK has taken gigantic leaps in the last 12 months, emerging from off-season Listed races to become a genuine Group 1 class stayer with more than $1,336,390 in prizemoney.

But the elation of STOCKMAN’s St Leger win quickly turned to a nervous wait for PRIVATE EYE in The Everest.

As we had highlighted earlier in the week, to have our colours represented in the world’s richest race on turf was an achievement in itself, but thoughts of ‘what if we win’ began to intensify as PRIVATE EYE’s odds firmed from $14 into $10.

As it turned out, the 5YO son of AL MAHER ran the race of his life, beating all bar the unbeaten 3YO GIGA KICK, who made the most of a 5kg weight swing under the weight-for-age conditions of the race.

When PRIVATE EYE loomed up outside the heavily backed favourite and best sprinter in the world NATURE STRIP, it appeared all our Christmases had come at once but in the final strides we were bloused by the fast-finishing GIGA KICK.

“He was awesome. We went along at a really solid speed and he was still there for me midfield travelling sweetly,” rider Brenton Avdulla said.

“He cornered well, got up the rise, and I knew I had the big horse NATURE STRIP covered and thought I was the winner there before the 3YO chimed in late. Very proud of him.”

Nothing can be taken away from GIGA KICK, he was simply too good and is obviously a star in the making with five wins from as many starts.

The biggest thing we learned about PRIVATE EYE on Saturday was his incredible versatility. An Epsom (1600m) winner this time last year, he was expected to find the likes of NATURE STRIP too sharp over the 1200m second-up, so to beat them at their own game highlighted what a high-class horse we have on our hands.

Anything from 1200m to 2000m appears to be within PRIVATE EYE’s scope which leaves us in a pleasant conundrum. Do we come back for a second crack at the Everest next year or go for the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley?

PRIVATE EYE’s and STOCKMAN’s deeds on Saturday earned them a combined $2,588,500 in prizemoney. Congratulations to our loyal owners. It’s days like these we live for!

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