Homebred Ceolwulf’s successful defence of his Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) title ensured Cambridge Stud celebrated a top day at Randwick.
Their colours were carried by James McDonald into fifth aboard Joliestar in Saturday’s Gr.1 The Everest (1200m) before the Joe Pride-trained farm graduate bounced back to his best in the weight-for-age feature.
“We would have loved to have won The Everest with Joliestar, but it wasn’t to be, and then the day finished on a real high with Ceolwulf,” Cambridge Stud’s Scott Calder said.
“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t lost a bit of confidence along the way, he won the race 12 months ago and Joe Pride has been so positive about him, but his form had been indifferent.
“In the end, it was a masterstroke for him to have the blinkers up his sleeve, and it was awesome to see him back to that level again.”
Ceolwulf was sold on behalf of the stud by Riversley Park at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale where Pride secured him with Leighton Fowl for $170,000.
He is out of the Shamardal mare Las Brisas, whose 3YO Almanzor filly Lupa Capitolina was also bought at Karaka by Pride for $260,000.
A half-brother by Sword of State will be part of Cambridge Stud’s draft to the 2026 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
“That’s the real upside with a Sword Of State heading to Karaka, it’s exciting on both fronts with the stallion having his first stakes winner (Torture) and then Ceolwulf adding his third Group One to the page,” Calder said.
“No doubt, he will be one of the most highly anticipated horses in our draft and he’s already got a profile as the horse the Guerin Report has been following since birth.
“He’s a really nice colt and a different sort to Ceolwulf, who was in that lighter framed Tavistock mould and a later developing, middle distance type of horse.
“The Sword Of State colt is very much in keeping with the stock the stallion throws, a medium-size, very mature and strong horse with a good hind quarter.”
The unraced Las Brisas foaled a filly this season to stud newcomer Chaldean.
“She has left a beautiful filly this year and whether she goes to public auction is probably pretty unlikely,” Calder said.
“For the sake of Chaldean, it’s fantastic to have such a really nice foal out of one of our best mares.
“All going to plan, the mare will be covered by I Am Invincible this year and obviously is a mare befitting of going to a stallion of that calibre.”
Las Brisas purchased for 50,000gns at the 2018 Tattersalls December Mare Sale.
“As everyone knows with breeding, you have to have long range plans and investment and it can really pay dividends,” Calder said.
“Even prior to owning Cambridge Stud, Brendan and Jo (Lindsay) invested in European bloodstock sales and those rewards are coming to bear now,” Calder said.
“Las Brisas is an example of that, a well-related daughter of Shamardal and Brendan was at the sale that year with (bloodstock agent) John Foote and (stud CEO) Henry Plumptre and now she’s produced one of the best middle-distance horses in Australasia.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
