Back-to-back Group 1s for Ceolwulf
Having landed the Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) on October 5, the Joe Pride-trained Ceolwulf (4 g Tavistock – Las Brisas by Shamardal) made it back-to-back Group 1 victories when taking out Saturday’s King Charles III Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick.
Ridden by Chad Schofield, as he had been in the Epsom, the gelded four-year-old son of Tavistock (Montjeu) came with a booming run down the centre of the track inside the final 200 metres to deny the front-running Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) by a widening 0.8 lengths.
There was just a further 0.2 lengths back to the third-placed My Oberon (Dubawi).
Pride revealed post-race that Ceolwulf will not back-up in next weekend’s Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m), instead being aimed at the race in 2025.
“They can only go so far in one preparation. I’d hate to send the horse to the races and have him not perform,” Pride told Racing.com.
“It’s only a week away. I’m sure it’s too much. I always wanted to win the Cox Plate and he’s my Cox Plate horse. I’ll wait a year.
“I certainly thought he could go out there and do that today. And I said to the owners that if it doesn’t happen this year, it’ll happen next year.
“I’ve been very confident that he’s on that path towards being one of the best horses around. After today, he’s there. He’s on his way. I think he’s already a star.
“I’m just really grateful to have come across a horse like this. The world’s his oyster.”