NZB Ready to Run graduate Ceolwulf mastered the Randwick mile again on Saturday, going back-to-back in the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) and heading an all New Zealand-bred trifecta in the A$5 million showpiece.
The Tavistock gelding defended his King Charles crown with a powerhouse performance to beat 10-time Group One winner Mr Brightside by a length and three-quarters. The Matamata-trained Proisir gelding Pier finished another neck away in third.
That trifecta capped a remarkable day at Randwick for the Kiwi-breds, who had earlier produced a one-three result with Ka Ying Rising and Jimmysstar in the A$20 million Gr.1 The Everest (1200m), followed by a Linebacker-Lord Penman quinella in the A$1 million Silver Eagle (1300m).
A top-flight performer up to a 2400m placing in the Gr.1 Australian Derby as a three-year-old, Ceolwulf added a new dimension to his repertoire with a scintillating spring Group One 1600m double in last year's Epsom Handicap and King Charles.
The five-year-old was below that very best form through his first four runs this spring, finishing fourth in the Gr.1 Winx Stakes (1400m), fourth in the Gr.2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m), third in the 7 Stakes (1600m) and sixth in the Epsom. But he rose to the occasion on Saturday and was right back at the peak of his powers.
Trainer Joe Pride applied blinkers for the King Charles and Ceolwulf showed an explosive turn of foot to burst out of the pack in the straight.
Just as Pride Of Jenni, Mr Brightside, Pier and Pericles seemed set to fight out the finish, Ceolwulf flew through on their inside to score a superb win.
“That was absolutely amazing,” Pride said. “I watched it down there with my two daughters, who never come to the racetrack, so it was really special.
“It’s been 12 months of waiting, really. I was here 12 months ago and I thought this is the best horse I’ll ever train, and we spent another 12 months waiting to see that again.
“I'm just glad to see him return to what he is capable of, because his best is better than a lot of the horses that have been beating him.
“We chucked the blinkers on him, it's the first time today he's ever worn them, and it's done the trick. He just needed to find some room in the straight because he was full of running.
“This horse is a long way from being finished, there’s plenty of wins to come. He wins the races that count and gets beaten in a few that I guess don’t count as much.”
Ceolwulf has been ridden to all of his three Group One victories by Chad Schofield.
“It's a relief as much as anything,” Schofield said. “First up I didn't give him the best ride, but his last couple have been below par.
“But Joe had the ace up his sleeve with the blinkers and he travelled so well today. I knew we were on today. We found a happy spot on the rail and he did the rest.”
Ceolwulf was bred by Cambridge Stud owners Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay and is a son 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 went to $170,000 to secure him from Riversley Park’s draft.
Ceolwulf has now had 24 starts for six wins, seven placings and A$9.13 million in stakes. – NZ Racing Desk.
