Ceolwulf (NZ) Cracks A$10m with Champions Mile Triumph

The countdown to this week’s NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka received a timely boost when superstar graduate Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) took his career earnings past A$10m with victory in the A$3m Group One Lexus Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Now a four-time Group One winner, Ceolwulf was bought by trainer Joe Pride and part-owner Leighton Howl for $170,000 from Riversley Park's 2022 Ready to Run Sale draft. He has now had 25 starts for seven wins, seven placings and A$10.93m in stakes – more than 74 times his purchase price.

All of Ceolwulf’s three previous triumphs at the elite level had come at Randwick. He won the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and King Charles III Stakes (1600m) last spring, then returned last month to successfully defend his King Charles crown.

Saturday provided a new challenge, switching to the anticlockwise direction in his very first start outside New South Wales. But against a top-class field and in deteriorating Flemington track conditions, Ceolwulf again reigned supreme.

Ceolwulf and jockey Chad Schofield settled in fourth place before coming with big strides down the outside to stake their claim early in the home straight.

They had company, however, with Pericles (Street Boss) drawing up alongside and clearly getting his head in front of Ceolwulf inside the last 200 metres. But Ceolwulf rose to meet the challenge and managed to wrest back control of the race, edging out his gallant rival by a short half-head.

“He jumped really well today and he made the most out of that good jump and put himself in a more forward position,” Schofield said. “When the race heated up around the 600 metres, he was still going really well.

“He ambled into it, and then he had a good look when he hit the big Flemington straight for the first time. He got a bit lost for a while until Pericles got in front of him and then he could see him with his blinkers, and he was the stronger horse late.”

Pride used Saturday’s Melbourne assignment as a reconnaissance mission ahead of a possible tilt at next year’s Cox Plate (2040m), which will be run at Flemington during Moonee Valley’s redevelopment.

“That was fantastic, really special,” Pride said. “I love winning races here.

“This horse has really turned it on in the second half of the preparation and has strung a couple of very good wins together.

“I thought at the 200 metres that he wasn’t enjoying it. He was wandering around a little bit. But, as soon as Pericles challenged him, he rallied. It was a really good go to the line with two good horses.

“I’ve thought for a long time he’s the best horse I’ve trained, and with his last two wins, he’s certainly cemented his spot there. It’s great work from the team at home and it’s a big effort to get these horses here on the big days. He’s never travelled away before, but he’s handled it really well and we’ll be back.

“I’d love to be back here for the Cox Plate. Whether or not he is as good at 2000 metres as he is at a mile, we’ll find out in the autumn – probably in the Queen Elizabeth.

“I normally travel my horses at some stage of their career, but through circumstance, he hadn’t had a trip away. It’s nice to see him do that today as some horses don’t like it, don’t enjoy it, but he’s relished it.”

The 2025 edition of the Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 10am (NZT) on Wednesday 12 & Thursday 13 November.

Vendor	Riversley Park Ltd
Purchaser	Mr JW Pride/Mr LJ Howl (New South Wales)
Breeding	Tavistock – Las Brisas
Sale	Lot 146, 2022 Ready to Run Sale, $170,000
Breeder	B J Lindsay MNZM & Mrs J E A Lindsay
Owner	Ungar Family, Mr W M Shelton, Mrs S E Shelton, Mr P A Young, Mr A J Rix, Mr B D Playford, Mr D Perkins, Mr L J Howl, Team T S A No. 2, Mr N J Pinner