Star sprinter Eduardo won’t be attempting a defence of his Doomben 10,000 crown, but trainer Joe Pride is still hoping to play a role during the winter carnival in Brisbane.
Pride was contemplating another Queensland campaign with Eduardo but decided a decent spell would be more beneficial with a view to tackling the Everest in the spring.
“I have been wanting to give him a decent break for some time and I’ve finally got the opportunity,” Pride said.
“Brisbane was six weeks away, the 10,000 and I didn’t want to wait that long.
“He will have 10, maybe 11 weeks out and that’s a good spell for him. He normally gets a maximum of six.”
Stablemate and Epsom Handicap winner Private Eye is being targeted at Brisbane after struggling for form on the heavy tracks that have plagued Sydney this autumn.
Since his first-up third to Forbidden Love in the Canterbury Stakes, he has finished fifth in the George Ryder and beaten just one rival home in the Doncaster Mile last week.
Pride plans to trial the four-year-old at Warwick Farm on Monday before heading to the Tails Stakes (1600m) at Doomben on April 23.
“It’s only a Listed race but I just want to get him back in the winner’s circle,” Pride said.
“He’s getting a bit tired of running on these heavy tracks. He has hit three this preparation and I think his enthusiasm is waning every time he gets on one.”
Another horse looking for a firmer surface is promising filly Lekvarte, who was scratched from the ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) on Saturday due to the heavy ground.
Pride is still weighing up his options but says the Queensland Oaks could be on the radar.
“Possibly. She’s up for a prep, she’s just had no luck,” he said.
“She hit a really wet track at Goulburn (two starts ago) then went to Brisbane and got one.”