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By Ray Hickson

Private Eye virtually won his way into the TAB Everest with a dashing first-up victory and trainer Joe Pride said he belongs in the field for the $15m sprint.

That’s why when the Inglis slot became available, with the setback to Inglis’ original selection Snapdancer, the five-year-old’s connections elected to take his place against the best sprinters around instead of chasing smaller fish.

Pride was always planning to run Private Eye on Everest day in the $2m Sydney Stakes on his way to other goals but after his dominant Gilgai Stakes win he was a logical choice to fill the vacant slot.

“I’m happy to have him there,’’ Pride said.

“You saw what he did the other day and it’s my job, and the team, to keep him that way. While there was a spot or two open it was impossible for him not be there given how well he is going.

“He’s forced his way into the field in a lot of ways.

“He was always going to run next week, I’m happy to give him his chance against the better ones.”

We’re excited to announce our new runner in next Saturday’s The Everest, where we’ll be represented by…. pic.twitter.com/VU8W5Cgbbm

— Inglis (@inglis_sales) October 6, 2022

The Gilgai was Private Eye’s first win since last year’s Epsom but he’s recorded two Group 1 placings in the Canterbury Stakes, on a heavy track at Randwick, and the Stradbroke.

Pride said a TAB Everest run at a genuine tempo would bring a horse like Private Eye, $15 with TAB, right into the race. But his presence will also make the race trickier for the trainer to watch as he’ll have stablemate Eduardo up on the speed.

“He loves high pressure races, a race with a bit of speed on will suit him,’’ he said.

“It could be hard to watch. They’ll be a long way apart I’d say.”

He said in an ideal world the TAB Everest would be run on a soft 6 or 7 track to give Private Eye his best chance of winning.

While he wasn’t an Inglis sales purchase, five per cent of Private Eye was sold through Inglis Digital in September and was picked up for $60,000 by Nick Dimitrakis who not only had an instant return with his Gilgai win but also has a TAB Everest runner.

Tom Walter from Proven Thoroughbreds said the ownership group is excited to be a part of Australia’s richest race and it was never an afterthought to be there – hence plans to run in the Sydney Stakes.

After contesting the Stradbroke, where he was beaten a length by Alligator Blood, Walter and his father Jamie decided on the plan hoping they’d attract a slot holder.

“We looked at the timing of the races and thought why not have a crack at the Everest first or second-up,’’ he said.

“The owners are just happy to be there. We’re realistic because he is second-up staying at six furlongs, but if it is run like a 1400m we will welcome that with open arms.”

Private Eye is a special horse to Proven Thoroughbreds being the company’s first Group 1 winner, he also contested last year’s $7.5m Golden Eagle and is now in an Everest.

“To be going into an Everest is pretty incredible and I know the owners are just delighted to be in the mix,’’ Walter said.

“It’s less about the result and more about the experience. He was going to be running on that day anyway and it came down to the fact that a horse of his class should be running in the Everest rather than the consolation.”

Walter said Proven Thoroughbreds and the owners were more than happy to accept Inglis’ terms given they’ve “been very good to us” over the years through sales and felt it was only fair they repay Inglis.

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