Pride follows proven path with Ceolwulf
Joe Pride believes Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) is doing everything a little better this spring as the dual Group One winner prepares to tackle Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
The 59kg topweight will follow a familiar path through the Epsom towards the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m), with Pride intent on having his star galloper at his peak for the latter assignment.
“Ceolwulf’s fantastic, I’m really happy with him,” Pride said.
“He’s been racing really consistently this preparation and racing better than he was at the same time last year.
“He’s going to the Epsom again on Saturday and then into the King Charles, so it’s easy to compare him year to year. I think by anyone’s standards he looks like he’s doing everything a little bit better this year.”
The six-year-old son of Tavistock captured the Epsom in 2024 before adding the King Charles III Stakes to his record. Last spring, he finished sixth in the Epsom before successfully defending his King Charles crown and going on to win the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington.
That record gives Pride confidence in the programme, although he acknowledges Saturday’s handicap presents a demanding assignment.
“To be honest, it’s not a race I go into on Saturday expecting to win,” he said.
“I’d love to think he could win, but it’s an important race in preparing this horse to perform at his absolute best on King Charles Day and beyond.”
Ceolwulf has drawn barrier seven for Chad Schofield and, with 59kg, will concede weight to each of his rivals as he attempts to regain his Epsom title.
Some give in the Randwick surface would be welcomed by Pride, with rain in the forecast later in the week.
“I’d love to think it was a little bit wet there on Saturday, but we’ll really see the best of him on King Charles Day,” he said.
Pride is sticking with a preparation that has already proven successful with the gelding.
“I’m very much a pattern trainer and I like finding what works for a horse and then repeating it,” he said.
“I think it’s a proven formula for my stable and we’re just trying to replicate what we did last year.
“If we can come away with two Group Ones again this preparation, that would be the absolute icing on the cake for us.”
Bred by Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, Ceolwulf is out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas.
The gelding is a graduate of the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, where Pride and part-owner Leighton Howl secured him for $170,000 from Riversley Park’s draft.
Ceolwulf has recorded seven wins, five seconds and four thirds from 30 starts, earning more than $11.1 million in prizemoney, with a further $731,250 in bonuses
