Whether Ceolwulf can dethrone superstar mare Autumn Glow in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick hinges on Sydney’s weather, trainer Joseph Pride believes.
Autumn Glow, the unbackable $1.30 pick for victory number 10 on Saturday, holds pricing Pride views as fair.
Exceptionally, Pride flags viability for Ceolwulf should ample rain eventuate from variable predictions, enabling a track sufficiently saturated.
“I’m not even thinking about winning chances because honestly, if that mare shows up with what she did the other day, you’re probably not going to beat her at this stage of the preparation for us, with no blinkers and so early on,” Pride said.
“His best chance of running really well would be if the track is wet, so I’ve got my eye on that.
“That’s probably what punters want to hear from me, ‘is there a chance your horse could win? Well yes, but it would have to be wet, I would think’.”
Ceolwulf racing at Randwick eases Pride’s concerns somewhat.
He skipped the prior Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) on injury grounds, and recently after the Apollo Stakes (1400m), blood in nostrils post-race threatened a standard three-month veto.
Scoping afterwards cleared Ceolwulf’s respiratory system, diagnosing a superficial nasal bleed.
Stewards permitted progression, Pride stressing no training disruptions.
“As soon as I scoped him, I felt like he was entitled to be here, but going back to two weeks ago when I saw him post-race, it is a massive relief,” Pride said.
“He didn’t miss a walk. He missed nothing.”
Ceolwulf’s record includes three elite mile conquests at Randwick, building momentum through his campaign, positioning Pride for placings Saturday.
“Hopefully the first four or five and I’ll be happy. That will be box ticked going forward and I’ll know that he is on track. But I’m very happy with him.”
Pride eyes precipitation boosting his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) duo Coal Crusher and Cool Jakey, wet specialists, and Gatsby’s late charge.
“I’m very happy with that horse,” he said of Gatsby’s.
“He’s had a real change in his attitude and he’s going well. He has put in three good, honest runs for me, and he’ll go really well on Saturday.”
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