Inglis chief executive Sebastian Hutch ended a tough few days on a joyous note by locking in Group 1 winner Private Eye to run in The Everest for the sale company on Thursday.
It was a deal that pleased all parties including trainer Joe Pride and Proven Thoroughbreds, whose silks will have an Inglis cap added to them for the $15 million sprint at Randwick on October 15.
Private Eye is the 11th runner confirmed for The Everest.Credit:Getty
A week that started poorly with Snapdancer, Inglis’s original Everest choice, being ruled out with a hoof injury was made less stressful for Hutch with a ready-made replacement and a deal that was easy to negotiate.
“After Saturday’s win in the Gilgai Stakes he was the obvious horse for everyone to see,” Hutch said.
“I looked at that performance and thought he might be the horse we have to beat in The Everest, if someone picked him up, and then Snapdancer was injured.
“He became the right horse at the right time for us. He was the silver lining to a rather dark Everest cloud for us.”
Joe Pride will send Eduardo out in The Everest.Credit:Getty
It gives Pride a second Everest runner to go with Eduardo, which represents the Yulong slot. Private Eye will bide his time towards the back of the field before hoping to swoop late.
“Private Eye is a real exciting horse and over the past 12 months, and particularly in the last six months, he has really come of age,” Pride said.
“He has just become a bigger stronger version of himself, and he has an amazing turn of foot.
“For Private Eye the race set-up is perfect. There is a lot of speed in the race, a lot of speed to lead the race and that is going to ensure a great tempo and give him his chance late.
“Randwick is a swoopers’ track and that will really suit him.”
Private Eye was being prepared to run in the Sydney Stakes, but his owners from Proven Thoroughbreds will now have a chance at splitting the $6.2 million first prizemoney in The Everest, which will have Nature Strip as a dominant favourite.
“The owners didn’t have to think about it much because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to run in The Evereest,” Proven boss Jamie Walter said.
It leaves only global breeding and racing giant Godolphin to settle on their runner for The Everest, with Kementari favoured to win the spot over stablemates Paulele and In Secret.
Godolphin will not make their decision until next week, with a number of Everest contenders running at Caulfield on Saturday.
The final field will be drawn on Tuesday with the barrier draw taking place that night.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
