Wet conditions to aid Ceolwulf's King Charles defence
Trainer Joe Pride is hoping the rain continues to fall in Sydney ahead of New Zealand-bred galloper Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) chasing a third consecutive Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) victory at Randwick on Saturday.
The son of Tavistock has established himself among Australia's leading milers, claiming the $5 million feature in each of the past two years, and Pride believes testing conditions will only enhance his chances of completing a hat-trick.
Randwick was downgraded into the heavy range on Wednesday following significant overnight rain, with further showers forecast in the lead-up to Saturday's meeting.
Ceolwulf has recorded two wins and a placing from four starts on heavy ground, including his victory in last year's Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington, and Pride is delighted with how conditions are shaping up.
"The more the better," Pride said of the forecast for rain.
"He's a great wet tracker. After he won the King Charles last year and went to Melbourne, the track he won on there was bottomless and he thrived on it.
"It has fallen into place beautifully so far. I've got a few days to go, and I don't take them for granted. Every moment before the race there's an opportunity for things not to go to plan, but I'm extremely pleased with the horse and I couldn't have scripted it better, at this stage anyway, with the set of circumstances we're going into the race with."
Among Ceolwulf's five rivals is free-running mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai), whose inclusion is expected to ensure a genuine tempo in the weight-for-age contest.
While acknowledging the challenge posed by the Victorian mare, Pride believes her presence could also work in Ceolwulf's favour against unbeaten race favourite Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun).
"She's a very good mare (Pride Of Jenni), and her being there is another very good horse to beat," Pride said.
"But it potentially takes Autumn Glow out of her comfort zone a little bit more than what she has been these first couple of runs back. Under the scenario where it's a sit and sprint home, I'm stating the obvious – she (Autumn Glow) is better than us at that.
"I want to take her to hopefully a place she hasn't been before, and with Pride Of Jenni in the race there's the potential to do that."
Pride has followed a familiar path into the King Charles III Stakes, with Ceolwulf contesting the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick at his previous start, as he did before winning the race in both 2024 and 2025.
The six-year-old could face a quick turnaround following Saturday's assignment, with Pride considering backing him up seven days later in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m), which will be staged at Flemington this year.
"Probably a decision on Sunday morning about whether we take him down for the Cox Plate, and if he doesn't he'll go for the Champions Stakes," Pride said.
Ceolwulf will also have blinkers reapplied for the first time this preparation as he attempts to add another Group One victory to his record.
Bred by Brendan and Jo Lindsay of Cambridge Stud, Ceolwulf is by the late Tavistock out of the unraced Shamardal mare Las Brisas, a half-sister to stakes winner Nantyglo.
He was purchased by Pride and Leighton Howl for $170,000 from Riversley Park's draft at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2022 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.
Ceolwulf has since developed into one of the sale's top graduates, winning four Group One races, including two editions of the King Charles III Stakes, the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and Champions Mile (1600m), and amassing more than A$11 million in prizemoney. - NZ Racing Desk
She's A Hustler chasing Caulfield Cup glory
Trainer Grahame Begg is hoping a return to 2400m and favourable track conditions can bring out the best in New Zealand-bred mare She's A Hustler (NZ) (Ace High) when she contests Saturday's Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
The daughter of Ace High will be stepping out over the distance for just the second time, having claimed the Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield last November, where she defeated Light Infantry Man (Fast Company) under weight-for-age conditions.
That victory remains her most recent success, although Begg has been pleased with her performances since, with wet tracks and strongly-run contests proving challenging for the mare.
She's A Hustler closed strongly to finish fifth behind Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior) in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 12 before fading to seventh behind Cosmic Crusader (NZ) (Maurice) in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) on October 3.
Begg believes the mare is at her best when able to settle into a comfortable rhythm, with the expected firmer conditions at Caulfield on Saturday likely to be in her favour.
"It was too wet last time, and she can't cope with the high-pressure races," Begg said.
"She needs a dry track and to be able to come up for air at some time in the run. She needs to be able to come back and then travel through her gears.
"Who would have thought Light Infantry Man would go out the way he did, and it was the same when she was chasing Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in Brisbane, she didn't get that chance to come up for air and she's not as effective.
"Her previous run was excellent and all her runs on good tracks have been good.
"Low-range soft is OK, but we should get nice ground for her and we're looking forward to seeing her on Saturday."
While the Caulfield Cup is traditionally a strongly-run staying contest, Begg is hopeful the switch to handicap conditions will allow She's A Hustler to produce her best, having recently competed in weight-for-age and set-weights-and-penalties company.
She's A Hustler drew barrier six at Tuesday's barrier draw and will jump from gate five should the emergencies fail to gain a start.
Michael Dee takes the ride, with Begg keen for the mare to be allowed to settle and conserve her energy in the early stages.
"She will be ridden quiet," Begg said.
"Hopefully she will be midfield, doing no work, not being bustled to hold a position and just let her travel."
Bred by Nearco Stud and Rich Hill Thoroughbreds, She's A Hustler is by Rich Hill Stud's dual Group One-winning stallion Ace High out of the Bernardini mare Snow Petal.
She was purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock for $70,000 from Rich Hill Stud's draft at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Snow Petal is a daughter of Group One winner Zirna and has produced five winners from five foals to race, including stakes-performed Freeze Frame (NZ) (Vadamos), who placed in the Gr.3 Winter Cup (1600m).
She's A Hustler will be bidding to add a maiden Group One victory to a record that already includes success in the Gr.2 Zipping Classic (2400m) and Gr.3 Tesio Stakes (2040m). - NZ Racing Desk
Liguria’s Guineas hopes rest on Ellerslie outcome
Classic ambitions for quality filly Liguria (NZ) (Snitzel) will be determined by her performance at Ellerslie this weekend.
The Lance Noble-trained daughter of Snitzel will be on trial for higher southern honours when she lines up in the Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).
Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud, Liguria holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Saturday will present a key challenge for the three-year-old.
“This will dictate whether we go to Christchurch or not, she’s bred to be a speed horse, and I’ve got a little doubt in my mind if she will get a mile,” Noble said.
“We’ll be a lot wiser after Saturday and if she happened to win, and win well hitting the line strongly, then we’ll definitely be going.”
Liguria was tardily away when resuming in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and overcame an interrupted passage to finish runner-up to Hawea.
“It was a top run, she got a bit further back than what would have been ideal, but I thought she ran terrific,” Noble said.
“It’s been a nice three weeks between races, which has been good for her, so we’re looking forward to it. Obviously, the winner is the benchmark at the moment, but Liguria is back at Ellerslie where she’s had a win, a second and a placing.”
Liguria raced exclusively at Ellerslie last season and off a debut second, was successful in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings Stakes (1200m), and was put aside after finishing second to champion juvenile Lara Antipova in the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m).
Noble will also be represented in the rescheduled Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) by last season’s Gr.1 Otaki Maori WFA Classic (1600m) winner Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj).
The Iffraaj seven-year-old hasn’t raced since she ran fourth in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), and has trialled well ahead of her return.
“She’s great and I am very, very happy with her. Obviously, it wasn’t ideal taking her all the way to Rotorua but in saying that she would have had a gallop at home if she hadn’t gone to the races,” Noble said.
“If there’s any upside to not having the race at Rotorua, it’s that it’s at Ellerslie and she loves it there.
“Being so highly rated, weight-for-age is her best option so there’s the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders (Gr.2, 1400m) in a month’s time and the Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m), we would really love to go one better in that this time.”
Jaarffi ran third in the Pukekohe event last year before finishing runner-up in the Zabeel.
Meanwhile, promising staying mare Mollify (NZ) (So You Think) will open her spring campaign in the Horizon By SkyCity Handicap (1400m).
“She has come back stronger and went through the grades well last time, she’s very well but 1400m might be a bit short,” Noble said.
“We’ve got high expectations of her and we’ll try to get to the Counties Cup (Gr.3, 2100m), that’s her first goal.”
State Of Valour (NZ) (Sword Of State) will take a step back in class to contest the Race Images Maiden (1200m) off the back of a fourth in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m).
“He didn’t have a big break between two and three, and he looks a lot better now, he’s had a freshen-up and back to a maiden we’re hoping for a big improvement,” Noble said.
The stable’s other runner is Showgirl (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who was fourth on the Cambridge synthetic in her only appearance, and she will contest the Yourride (1400m).
“I quite like her and it’s not always easy for three-year-old fillies against older horses, but her trial at Ellerslie was very good and I think she’s got a decent race in her,” Noble said. - Paul Vettise
Waller hoping to topple Everest favourite
Champion trainer Chris Waller believes Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress) remains the horse to beat in Saturday's A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick, despite an awkward barrier draw and the prospect of a rain-affected track.
The world's highest-rated racehorse will be chasing his 22nd consecutive victory when he lines up in the world's richest turf race, having drawn barrier 11 in the 12-horse field.
Waller will saddle Joliestar (Zoustar) and Angel Capital (Harry Angel) in a bid to end the Hong Kong sprinter's remarkable winning streak, but acknowledges the challenge facing his pair.
Randwick was downgraded to the heavy range on Wednesday following 66mm of rain the previous day, although Waller believes the conditions will do little to diminish Ka Ying Rising's chances.
"He's a superstar, Ka Ying Rising, and superstars generally find ways to get themselves out of trouble and track conditions are one of those things, so he's certainly the horse to beat," Waller said.
"It's just great for the race and great for Australian racing to have horses on the international stage competing with us. It makes our race better. It gives us the chance to beat the horse – it's our home track compared to him having to travel, so that brings him back a little bit.
"Hopefully, one of the Australian horses can beat him, but it looks a tough ask.
"The weather is not ideal but I think come Saturday it will improve and the tracks in Sydney are racing well. Of course, it won't be rock-hard but we don't want that anyway. It will be a forgiving surface and should give all horses their best chance and I've got no concerns at all about the track."
Waller is confident Joliestar can produce a strong performance after drawing barrier five, with James McDonald retaining the ride.
The mare returns to Group One company for the first time since finishing third in the Gr.1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in June, and Waller believes she is approaching her peak.
"She's drawn well, which is great. We've got James McDonald on board, arguably the world's best jockey, and she's in fine form. Her first-up run was good and she's ready to peak," Waller said.
"James was disappointed that last year (in The Everest) that things didn't work out for her (when fifth) and he's probably thought about it since and we get our chance again this year and he knows her so well."
Stablemate Angel Capital will jump from barrier two under Ben Melham, with the last-start Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) winner returning to the race after finishing sixth last year.
Waller believes the entire has improved since that performance and could benefit from a strongly-run contest.
"Angel Capital was a little bit unlucky in the race last year and he's gone on and won a Group 1 since then and he's in career-best form so he's also drawn a good barrier and with good speed expected, that would really play into the hands of a horse like Angel Capital," Waller said.
"He's a big, strong horse. A high-pressure race is what he wants and last year you could say that they went a little bit slower than anticipated. He needs a really high-pressure race.
"Some of the better horses have drawn out wide. They'll be surging across to find a position, to not cover too much ground. The horses on the inside will be making sure they're holding their positions or they'll get put out the back and it will be just a race for the frontrunners, so it's setting up to be a good contest and it should suit a horse like Angel Capital." - NZ Racing Desk
Joshua Smith
NZ Racing Desk
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