The Golden Eagle, the Stradbroke Handicap and even the Queensland Derby were all mentioned as potential future options as X-factor galloper Private Eye snatched victory from the jaws of defeat at Eagle Farm.
Joe Pride certainly has some thinking to do, for both the Queensland winter carnival and beyond, as three-year-old Private Eye did what jockey Brenton Avdulla thought was impossible in winning the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m).
Hard-ridden in last spot and barely able to see leader Apache Chase, Avdulla had conceded defeat.
“I was under hard riding before the corner and I thought it was going to be a waste of time to be honest,” Avdulla said.