Rawiller gives Private Eye tick of approval for Eagle
CHAMPION rider Nash Rawiller says Golden Eagle contender Private Eye “is right on track” for Saturday week’s $7.5m contest after acquainting himself with the gelding in a barrier trial on Tuesday.
Rawiller landed the Golden Eagle ride aboard Private Eye last week following a careless riding suspension incurred by
Regan Bayliss, who was aboard the horse when he won the Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 2.
The jockey sat aboard the Joe Pride-trained galloper for the first time when finishing third in a 1045m trial behind smart performer Dawn Passage, a Golden Eagle placegetter from last year.
“I was rapt with him,” Rawiller said.
“He’s a lovely horse with a beautiful attitude.
“Joe just wanted me to cruise along out the back, get him to the outside and let him breeze home, and he couldn’t have done it any better.
“Gee, he gave me a great feel. He hasn’t take any harm from his Epsom win that’s for sure.
“Didn’t have his blinkers on either. If he had them on he probably would have smoked up under me a bit more down the running, but he was smoking up pretty good any way.
“It was a lovely bit of work. I wouldn’t swap him.”
Private Eye is the $6 second favourite for the Golden Eagle with TAB fixed odds and Hungry Heart, the fourth placegetter in Tuesday morning’s trial, is a $17 chance.
Meanwhile, Rawiller was also keen to talk up the summer prospects of the John O’sheatrained Southern Lad after he finished second in a sharp 742m trial behind the speedy Ballistic Lover.
Ballistic Lover, also trained by Pride, ran an electric 41.71 seconds from start to finish in the trial, covering the last 600m in 31.54.
“Southern Lad’s come back well,” he said. “He’s in for a good prep for sure.”