Trainer Joe Pride is taking an unorthodox route with Private Eye, opting to run the talented sprinter-miler first-up in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) despite a disrupted preparation.

The gelding was scheduled to run in the Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m) last weekend, but when the Eagle Farm meeting was abandoned due to weather and rescheduled, Pride decided to alter plans.

“We’ve just had to adjust. I didn’t want to keep him up there waiting around,” Pride explained.

“He’s had four trials in total now, and I think that’s enough to have him fit enough to run a great race.”

Instead of the Kingsford-Smith, Private Eye was given a solid hit-out in a 900m Rosehill trial on Friday, where he led from start to finish and looked sharp.

Pride will still be represented at Eagle Farm this Saturday with Lekvarte in the Magic Millions National Classic (1600m).

He also has a strong team heading to Randwick, including In Flight in the Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m), as well as Estadio Mestalla, Headley Grange, and Testator Silens in the Singapore Pools Handicap (1300m).

“I really like the look of Headley Grange in that race, and Estadio Mestalla should be very competitive first-up,” Pride said.

Cosmonova has been withdrawn from the Toyota Forklift Handicap (1000m) and is being saved for Canterbury on Monday, leaving Storm The Ramparts as his lone runner in that contest.

“He’s never strung two wins together, but he likes the wet, so we’re confident he’ll run well,” said Pride.