Ceolwulf out to join Winx in King Charles history
New Zealand-bred gelding Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) will attempt to join Winx in the history books when he chases a third consecutive victory in Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
The Joe Pride-trained gelding faces a formidable challenge from champion mare Autumn Glow, while the presence of free-running star Pride Of Jenni could prove crucial to his chances.
Pride believes Pride Of Jenni, who has helped set up Ceolwulf’s previous two victories, could again play into his hands by forcing Autumn Glow out of her comfort zone.
“Autumn Glow is a better horse than Ceolwulf, I would be an idiot to say otherwise but there are a certain set of circumstances that he can beat her,” Pride told Racenet.
“I think he is going to get them on Saturday but he still has to go out there and get the job done.
“Pride Of Jenni is a very good mare and I don’t take it for granted that her being there is another very good horse to beat but it potentially takes Autumn Glow out of her comfort zone a little more than she has been at her first couple of runs back.
“Under that scenario where it is a bit of a sit and sprint home, I am stating the obvious, she (Autumn Glow) is better than us at that.
“I want it to take her to a place she hasn’t been before and hopefully with Pride Of Jenni in the race, it’s got the potential to do that.”
Autumn Glow has won 13 of her 14 starts and holds a four-nil advantage over Ceolwulf in their previous meetings.
The Chris Waller-trained mare dominates betting at $1.30, with Ceolwulf second favourite at $3.50 ahead of Pride Of Jenni at $6.
Pride also believes a rain-affected track will favour Ceolwulf, who will be ridden by Chad Schofield.
Victory would see Ceolwulf become just the second horse to win the race three times, joining Winx, who completed her hat-trick between 2016 and 2018.
Already a four-time Group One winner, Ceolwulf is considered the best horse Pride has trained.
“He has won four Group 1s now and has a while to get into that kind of category but he is certainly the best horse I’ve trained.
“Hopefully, and I think there still is, more wins in store for him.”
Ceolwulf was bred by Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay and is out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas.
He was purchased by Pride and part-owner Leighton Howl for $170,000 from Riversley Park’s draft at the 2022 NZB Ready to Run Sale.
