Sydney trainer Joseph Pride is undeterred by the challenges facing Private Eye when the outstanding miler tackles the AU$3 million (approx. HK$15.16 million) G1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane, Australia on Saturday (14 June).
Assigned top weight of 57kg (126lb), Private Eye will resume after a 182-day break and will have to defy history as he attempts to become the first horse to carry 57kg or more to victory in the Stradbroke Handicap since Rough Habit successfully carried 58.5kg (129lb) in 1992.
Additionally, winning the Stradbroke Handicap first-up is a rare achievement after an extended break with Crawl famously bucking the trend by triumphing in 2001 off a 56-day break.
"Records are made to be broken and I don't think first-up is what it used to be," said Pride, a former protege of 12-time Hong Kong champion trainer John Size. "I've also given Private Eye four barrier trials, I'm very happy with him, and he won't be beaten on the score of fitness.
"His trial last Friday (6 June) at Rosehill was everything I wanted to see from him. He jumped and put himself on the speed. He wanted to be there and that's the best version of Private Eye. He ran second in a Stradbroke three years ago (behind Alligator Blood) and I feel he's ready to run super again on Saturday."
Nash Rawiller will ride Private Eye, while Jason Collett will partner Golden Mile for James Cummings.
Briefly retired to start a breeding career, Golden Mile was gelded after being injured at stud and the Group 1 winner returned to racing in March before catching the eye when third to Joliestar in the G1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday (7 June).
"It'd be a great story for Golden Mile, who has come back from stud duties and he's been warming to a win," Cummings said. "He was excellent (last start) and he's been building up to that.
"A bit over a month ago he screamed home for third in the (G2) Victory Stakes (1200m at Eagle Farm) and that had him back in the form he was 12 months ago, just prior to him going to stud."
Other leading chances in the Stradbroke Handicap are War Machine and Rise At Dawn – who are both trained by Ben, Will & JD Hayes – veteran Rothfire, who will be ridden by James McDonald, and Robusto, who is trained by Bjorn Baker.
The AU$1.2 million (approx. HK$6.1 million) G2 HKJC World Pool Q22 (2200m) features eight runners, including Bankers Choice for Ben, Will & JD Hayes.
Third in the G3 Lord Mayor's Cup (1800m), the Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) winner Bankers Choice will be ridden by Mark Zahra.
"He's a very straightforward horse," Ben Hayes said. "He came to us in great form and we thought his run the other day was very good with a while between runs."
"He had the trial (at Caulfield Heath) because it was a while between those runs and the Eagle Farm run was a good pipe-opener for this really good prizemoney race," Ben added.
"He's shown that he can get to the trip and I think the 2200m should be ideal."
Other chances include Fawkner Park and Bois D'Argent, who are both trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, and Kovalica for Chris Waller.
