Wet Weather Could Dampen Private Eye's Missile Return

Group 1 winner Private Eye headlines the Randwick card but is no certainty to run

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SYDNEY - Top trainer Joseph Pride has until the morning of Aug 8 to decide if early Missile Stakes favourite Private Eye will take his place in the first Group race of the Sydney season or step out in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm.

The class runner in the 10-horse field of the A$300,000 (S$250,000) Group 2 race (1,200m) on Aug 9, Private Eye has been backed from 5-2 into 8-5 since markets opened, but Pride is wary of sending him around on a testing track so early this prep.

With the Randwick surface already rated a heavy 9 and rain forecast to return on Aug 7, Pride said he may be forced to take the Al Maher eight-year-old to the trials despite seeing the Missile Stakes as a perfect seasonal kick-off.