Where to Next for Kiwi Rising Star Ceolwulf?

Media Release - Saturday August 31

An explosive second-up win by Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) runner-up Ceolwulf at Rosehill has put trainer Joe Pride in two-minds about the best path to pursue this spring.

Ceolwulf is a rising star this spring - image Steve Hart

Pride had identified the Gr.1 Metropolitan (2400m) as a target but said the turn of foot Ceolwulf demonstrated in Saturday's Bankstown Sports Handicap (1500m) had all but forced him to entertain the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).

"To see him do something like that so early in the spring, it is hard not to get excited,'' Pride said.

"I was a little bit surprised by that. I would have been happy to see him grinding home as he is getting ready for 2000m.

"But that may open a few more options as it shows he might be a bit sharper."

Ceolwulf ($3.10) settled worse than midfield before James McDonald allowed him to creep into the race coming to the 800m.

Once the four-year-old balanced for home, he lengthened stride beautifully and shot clear for an effortless two-length win over Riyazan ($13) with Amor Victorious ($2.30 fav) holding down third.

Pride said he would likely proceed as planned to the Gr.3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 21 before deciding whether to bring Ceolwulf back in journey for the Epsom or extend him in distance.

"It is going to be a great journey because he is a beautiful horse to work with and in my mind, everything he does tells me he is going to keep getting better," Pride said.

"The plan was to go to the Kingston Town Stakes next and I will probably still go there, but that impressed me and maybe we can get somewhere this spring.

Advertisement

“With an immature horse like him, maybe this race and the next one will see him out.

"I never get ahead of myself in this game but he's a pretty special horse. I have been in love with him for a long time.”

McDonald was keen to be within striking distance on straightening on the son of Tavistock. He was really taken by the horse’s run.

“I wanted him to see the front and had a game plan of settling where I was but pretending the winning post was at the furlong,” McDonald said.

“I wanted to see what he could do and he was brilliant and really put them away. I loved the way he attacked the line, so it was a good effort.

“His run in the Derby was phenomenal so the writing is on the wall.”

Bred by Cambridge Stud, Ceolwulf has now won two of his 11 starts but has finished second in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) and Gr.3 Ming Dynasty Stakes (1400m).

Out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas, Ceolwulf is a graduate of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, with Pride going to $170,000 to secure him from Riversley Park’s 2022 draft. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Bankstown Sports (Bm100) 1500m

Rosehill Track: Good(4) Time: 1:28.95
1
Ceolwulf
- 4g Tavistock (NZ) x Las Brisas (GB) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: J B Mc Donald 60
NZB Ready To Run Sale $170,000
Seller: Riversley Park Ltd
Buyer: Mr JW Pride
2
1.9
Riyazan
- 10g Iffraaj (GB) x Riyaba (IRE) (Dalakhani (IRE))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Zac Lloyd 53.5
3
2.7
Amor Victorious
- 5g Caravaggio (USA) x Koizora (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: J Parr 57.5
Inglis Classic Yearling Sale $180,000
Seller: Bhima Thoroughbreds, Scone
Buyer: Darby Racing / Will Johnson Bloodstock
4
3.8
Ucalledit
- 7g Zacinto (GB) x Special Bay (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 61
5
3.9
Cuban Royale
- 10g Casino Prince (AUS) x Cuban Girl (AUS) (Hemingway (IRE))
Tnr: R & L Price Rdr: J Ford 54.5
6
4.1
Berkshire Shadow
- 6g Dark Angel (IRE) x Angel Vision (IRE) (Oasis Dream (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: Zac Wadick 58
7
4.2
Communist
- 5g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Cappadocia (AUS) (Northern Meteor (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 59
8
4.3
El Bodegon
- 6g Kodiac (GB) x Al Andalyya (USA) (Kingmambo (USA))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Benjamin Osmond 58
9
5
Charterhouse
- 7g Charming Thought (GB) x Crocus Rose (GB) (Royal Applause (GB))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: K Mc Evoy 59.5
10
6.2
So United
- 7g So You Think (NZ) x Maglissa (AUS) (Magnus (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Regan Bayliss 57
11
6.7
Land Legend
- 5g Galileo (IRE) x Landikusic (IRE) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Tyler Schiller 59
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Campaldino Wins G3 for Darby
Promising New Zealand-bred stayer Campaldino passed his biggest test with flying colours at Eagle Farm on Saturday, stepping up to stakes company and adding the A$200,000 Gr.3 Living Turf Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) to his winning sequence.
First Local Win As New Endeavour (IRE) Records Stakes Success
While it may have taken the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained New Endeavour (IRE) a while to record his first Australian success, connections were rewarded for their patience as the 5yo dominated under Tim Clark to win the Group 3 BRC Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm.
Ceolwulf Wins, But Only Just
Favourite backers breathed a collective sigh of relief when a small margin victory went the way of $1.50 chance Ceolwulf in a photo-finish to the $300,000 Group II ATC Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Tuesday.
Niance Overcomes Serious Injury to Claim Stakes Victory
Exciting New Zealand-bred mare Niance has bounced back from a serious injury and picked up right where she left off last spring, collecting her third consecutive black-type win in Saturday’s A$175,000 Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Three Straight Stakes Wins For Cool Aza Beel’s Cool Archie
With no two-year-old currently performing better in Queensland, the Chirs and Corey Munce trained Cool Archie continued his outstanding form, taking out the $1m Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), his third consecutive black type victory.
One to Watch – Warwick Farm
They aren’t making Tavistock’s anymore and his last crop of foals are now three year-olds with a Kiwi bred colt trained by Joe Pride set to step up to stakes company after casting off maiden status at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Kiwi Bred Ceolwulf Ready for G1 Verry Elleegant
Trainer Joe Pride is confident that Ceolwulf will take a significant step forward from his first-up performance as he prepares for Saturday’s Gr.1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick.
When in Doubt Back a Frankel!
The $200,000 Listed ATC Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m ) at Rosehill on Saturday attracted a competitive field of 14 stayers, the bulk of them imports and when you strike an open race like that it’s often wise to follow this piece of advice – when in doubt back a Frankel!
Hat-Trick for Trelawney Stud Blueblood Filly
Well-related Trelawney Stud filly Madiyya signed off her three-year-old season with a third straight win, this time over 1600m in the A$150,000 Rod Griffiths Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday.
Bright Future for El Roca 3YO
Owner-trainer-breeder Kylie Little believes she might have a promising stayer on her hands with Eagle Rock, who left maiden ranks with an emphatic performance in Saturday’s Matt Edwards-Lime Group Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa.