Racing
Ceolwulf’s autumn hangs in the balance after unusual bleed
Stewards have delayed making a call on the immediate future of Ceolwulf after the horse displayed blood in both nostrils following the Apollo Stakes.
Racing NSW stewards have adjourned a decision on whether Ceolwulf will be handed a mandatory three-month ban for bleeding after a post-race scope showed no evidence of blood in his lungs.
The horse had blood in both nostrils after finishing sixth to Autumn Glow in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday but given he had otherwise come through the run well, trainer Joe Pride asked for him to be scoped.
At a subsequent stewards' inquiry, two veterinarians provided evidence that the blood Ceolwulf presented with was not consistent with an exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage as his windpipe and lungs were clear.
"It was pristine. There wasn't a sign of any blood there at all, and also no sign of blood in his larynx," veterinarian Dr Michael Robinson told stewards.
"One hundred per cent, if a horse bled from the lungs, an hour after the race you would see blood in the trachea and there was no sign of blood in the trachea."
The vets' conclusion was that Ceolwulf had not suffered an internal bleed, but rather the blood was coming from an area high in his nostrils.
Steward Steve Railton said at this stage, the horse wouldn't be handed an automatic three-month ban under the Australian Rules of Racing, but added that the rule pertaining to bleeders "tightly constrains the stewards".
The matter was adjourned to allow stewards to seek further veterinary advice in order to make "an informed decision on the matter."
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