Joe Pride will make a call on Friday morning whether early Missile Stakes favourite Private Eye takes his place in Saturday’s Group 2 contest or heads to the trials instead.
The classy gelding has firmed from $3.30 into $2.60 but may be scratched due to the heavy Randwick surface, already rated a Heavy 9 with more rain forecast.
“I feel like he’s in for a good preparation and while I think he looks a good thing in that race, I’m not sure I want to kick him off on a really heavy track,” Pride said.
Alternative options include the Winx Stakes or P B Lawrence Stakes next week.
He added that rain on race day was his biggest concern: “Wet tracks to run on are so different when the rain is three or four days before a race as opposed to rain on race days.”
The Missile Stakes kicks off Sydney’s black type season, with the Group 1 Winx Stakes a fortnight away.
“Could any other horse in that race do what he’s done in his life?” Pride said.