Both Private Eye and Chrysaor will bypass a start in the Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield and instead take their chances in the $1 million The Hunter at the stand-alone Newcastle meeting.
Trainer Joe Pride had been two-minds about which way to head with Private Eye and while landing barrier 14 at both venues did little to make that decision clearer, he felt The Hunter (1300m) shaped as the better option.
“I have scratched him from Melbourne, and he will run up in The Hunter,” Pride said.
“Hopefully he can get some luck from that gate. He’s clearly the class horse in the race.”
Private Eye will carry topweight of 60kg and along with 2023 The Goodwood winner Royal Merchant is one of only two Group 1 winners in Saturday’s feature.
Chris Waller also confirmed Chrysaor would take his place at Newcastle after dual accepting at both venues.
The gelding has drawn well in barrier four and while Waller says he needs to lift on his past two efforts, they have been in stronger company.
Chrysaor finished in the second half of the field in both the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and the Golden Eagle (1500m) but he did claim the Group 2 Callander-Presnell 12 months ago and was a game first-up winner at Flemington in September.
“He was a bit outclassed in both of those but he is a good second-tier horse,” Waller said.
“I’m happy with him at home, he is working fine, he looks well.
“He won a Callander-Presnell and he has been a good horse, just at that second level.
“He’s got a good draw and Kerrin McEvoy.”
While Private Eye and Chrysaor will run at Newcastle, Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have scratched Charm Stone in preference for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
Local gelding Uzziah is also an early withdrawal from The Hunter, leaving a field of 13.