Racing
Track conditions key to Ceolwulf’s Verry Elleegant chances
Joe Pride concedes Ceolwulf probably can’t beat Autumn Glow this weekend – unless Randwick is hit with a deluge of rain.
Sydney's weather will determine if Ceolwulf has any chance of toppling glamour mare Autumn Glow in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick, according to his trainer Joseph Pride.
Autumn Glow is a prohibitive $1.30 favourite to extend her unbeaten sequence to 10 on Saturday, and Pride concedes it's a deserved quote.
His one caveat is if the upper end of the wide-ranging prediction of rain falls, declaring Ceolwulf some hope to upset the apple cart if the track becomes significantly wet.
"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'."
There is some relief for Pride in the simple fact Ceolwulf is lining up at Randwick.
He missed the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) last year due to a setback, and two weeks ago his autumn looked over when he returned to scale with blood in his nostrils following the Apollo Stakes (1400m), a condition that usually incurs an automatic three-month ban.
However, a subsequent scope showed no traces of blood in Ceolwulf's lungs or throat, and it was surmised the horse didn't suffer an internal bleed but rather something akin to a burst blood vessel in his nose.
Stewards gave him the green light to continue his preparation, and Pride said the horse hadn't missed a beat.
"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 has won three races over the Randwick mile, all at Group 1 level, but given he improves deeper into his campaign, Pride will be happy if he finishes in the first few on 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."
He is also hoping the rain comes for his Liverpool City Cup (1300m) runners Coal Crusher and Cool Jakey, who both excel in the wet, while anticipating another cheeky run from Gatsby's in the final race.
"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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