Ready to Run Graduate a Sydney Spring Superstar

Next month’s NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka is receiving the best possible publicity in Sydney this spring thanks to a stunning Group One double by 2022 Ready to Run graduate Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock).

The rising superstar added Saturday’s A$5m King Charles III Stakes (1600m) to his last-start triumph in the Epsom Handicap (1600m), and he has now earned A$4.75m from a 14-start, four-win career. Trainer Joe Pride and part-owner Leighton Howl bought him for $170,000 at Karaka two years ago. He has now earned almost 30 times that amount.

Ceolwulf’s electrifying Epsom victory on October 5 was impressive enough, but Saturday’s King Charles III Stakes was on a whole new level. He was taking on a star-studded field under weight-for-age conditions, including reigning Australian Horse of the Year Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai).

That superb mare adopted her usual front-running tactics and held a big lead over the field coming up to the home turn, with Ceolwulf languishing a long way back in a distant seventh.

But jockey Chad Schofield angled him out into clear air down the middle of the track and pushed the button, and Ceolwulf produced a turn of foot that few other horses could match.

Ceolwulf roared down the Randwick straight, reeling in Pride Of Jenni and racing past her to land the biggest win of his career by three-quarters of a length.

“That was breathtaking,” Schofield said. “I thought he was super in the Epsom, but that was even better.

“He didn’t jump that well, so I had to go to plan B and settle a bit further back than I wanted. Once I got him into the clear in the straight, he gave me the most amazing turn of foot.

“This is probably a changing of the guard. He’s the new one. He’s a machine. We know the stamina he’s got, and now we’re seeing that turn of foot. It’s very rare for a horse to have both of those things, and he’s just the best-tempered horse as well. He’s improving all the time too, which is scary.”

Pride revealed after the race that he had no reservations around stepping Ceolwulf up to weight-for-age class.

“I certainly thought he could do that today,” he said. “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.

“We gelded him after his three-year-old season. I’ll probably have some of the owners ask why we did that now, but I think he’s a better horse now as a gelding.

“I’m just really grateful to have come across a horse like this. The world’s his oyster.”

Ceolwulf now holds a prominent place on a Ready to Run Sale roll of honour that also features the likes of Golden Sixty (Medaglia d’Oro), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree), Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote).

The 2024 Ready to Run Sale will take place at Karaka on 20 and 21 November, with selling starting at 11am each day. Breeze Ups will be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on 21 and 22 October.

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
Bred by	B J Lindsay MNZM & Mrs J E A Lindsay