Private Eye back and winning after 18-month break

Astute Victorian horseman David Miles is predicting the lightly raced gelding Private Eye (Hes Watching) will go all the way to grand circuit level after an emphatic first-up harness racing win in the Logical Staffing Solutions Pace, at Melton Entertainment Complex tonight (Nov 11).

Private Eye, now a six-year-old, had quality stamped all over him as a three year old, but has had only 10 career starts.

An all-the-way win first up for more than 18 months must certainly rank as the training performance of the night by Sunbury trainer Ahmed Taiba.

The Taiba clan was disappointed earlier in the week when their stable star Captain Ravishing had his colors lowered in the Yarra Valley Cup by Serg Blanco, but no doubt bounced back with the front-running win by Private Eye.

Miles was bullish pre-race about the chances of Private Eye, a $6.50 hope in betting, on the back of three solid trials which he believed would have the pacer “close to the mark”.

The pair ran the gate strongly and worked to the lead from Diamond Eclipse (John Newberry) and held the front throughout, letting down strongly in the straight to score by 3.3 metres.

Private Eye was too strong first up to take out the Logical Staffing Solutions Pace for driver David Miles and trainer Ahmed Taiba. pic.twitter.com/I47L2a3LBb

— The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) November 11, 2023

The extended period on the sidelines (Private Eye last raced in March 2022) might have told in the final 50 metres when Private Eye was inclined to hang out, but he will greatly benefit from the run.

“I think he will go all the way to grand circuit level.  He is a very, very fast horse and if they can get his manners right, he will be a very nice horse,” Miles said.

“He’s given them some headaches. They’ve spent the time on him to get him right and they deserve it,” he said.

Private Eye clocked a mile rate of 1:55.8 over the 2240 metre trip (30.6 29.7 28.5 27.7) defeating Whiskey Cavalier (Andy Gath/Jordan Leedham) and Letsrockletsroll (David Aiken/Ryan Sanderson).

Black booker was the favorite, Terry, for Andy and Kate Gath, who was knocked out of contention by the galloping pole horse, Ideal Escape, but recovered to finish five metres behind the winner in fourth.

For complete race results, click here.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink