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A Group 1 Memsie Stakes target Saturday week in Melbourne could be on the cards for Joe Pride‘s evergreen eight-year-old Private Eye after his dominant return to racing in the 2025 P.B. Lawrence Stakes results over the weekend.
After his original first-up target in Sydney – the Missile Stakes – was cancelled due to inclement weather, the now $12.4 million earner showed his stuff further south putting two lengths on Desert Lightning to salute for the punters in this year’s Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
The event wasn’t without incident with Private Eye having to undergo a veterinarian check at the gates after he lunged behind the barriers, while Sepals one on his inside became fractious in the stall and was a late scratching from the weight-for-age showdown.
“It was a bit concerning,” Rawiller told the media post-race.
“He took a dive and hit his head. I backed him out and got him checked but I was confident he was well enough to race, I wanted to double check.”
Veteran sprinter-miler Private Eye ($3.10F) however went on to deliver a commanding performance to stamp himself as a serious spring contender.
Ridden with supreme confidence by Rawiller, the gun gelding made light work of his rivals, leading from start to finish to score by two lengths over the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman trained Desert Lightning ($12), with Lindsay Park‘s recent New Zealand Group 1 winner Here To Shock ($6) a further half-length back in third.
Private Eye was quickly into stride, crossing to the rail early and dictating terms with ease. With no pressure mid-race, Rawiller was able to conserve energy before asking for an effort at the 500m mark. The response was emphatic.
“He just was really switched on today; he travelled amazingly from the time he left the gates,” Rawiller said.
“Full credit to the team at home. They’ve got his zest for racing right, and we all know what he can do when he’s in a good vein of form.”
The win marked Rawiller’s second in the P.B. Lawrence Stakes, 19 years after his first aboard Pompeii Ruler in 2006.
For Pride, the victory was a satisfying reward after a disrupted campaign. Private Eye had been set to resume in the Missile Stakes in Sydney, but the meeting was abandoned due to weather, prompting a last-minute switch to Melbourne.
“When I saw him get off the float here, I grew in confidence,” Pride said.
“He’s an amazing athlete, and I think that’s his 13th interstate trip now – he’s very tough.
“It’s only his second run for 2025, so it’s the lightest raced he’s been in some time.”
With over $12 million in earnings and now a 13-time winner, Private Eye’s spring campaign is shaping up nicely.
Pride flagged the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 30 as a likely next target, with track conditions to determine whether the team remains in Melbourne or returns to Sydney.
“He’s an amazing athlete, I think this was his 13th interstate trip, so he’s very tough,” Pride said.
“I wouldn’t rule out coming back for the Memsie, plenty of races up there in Sydney but we’ll pick something off and hopefully on a better (drier) track than we got today.
“He’s been a very special horse for us for a very long time and when you bring them to races like this there’s a lot more pressure on him,” Pride said.
“He’s run (Group 1) placings in Stradbrokes and Everests at massive prices, when you come to races like this there’s a bit more pressure on him but he delivers.”
Mr Brightside (2023) was the last horse to complete the PB Lawrence – Memsie Stakes double.
Current pre-nomination 2025 Memsie Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes list Private Eye at $7 in an open market.
2025 P.B. Lawrence Stakes Results
P.B. Lawrence Stakes 2025 Results
| 1. Private Eye (7) J: Nash Rawiller 59kg 14x3x T: Joseph Pride | ||
| 5. Desert Lightning (1) J: Ben Melham 59kg 8024x T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 2. Here To Shock (9) J: Daniel Stackhouse 59kg 0112x T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 8. Moira (6) J: Damian Lane 57kg 21x0x T: Chris Waller | ||
| 6. Evaporate (3) J: Blake Shinn 58.5kg 3421x T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 9. Anisette (5) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 39x0x T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Pinstriped (8) J: Ben Allen 59kg 6x97x T: Enver Jusufovic | ||
| 11. Yellow Sam (2) J: Jamie Mott 57kg x1133 T: Lindsey Smith | ||
| 3. Attrition (4) J: Beau Mertens 59kg x828x T: Mitchell Freedman |
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