Joe Pride has pulled off a training masterstroke, his decision to add blinkers to Ceolwulf helping the gelding rediscover his best form and land back-to-back wins in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes at Randwick.
Ceolwulf hadn’t quite reached the heights expected since claiming the Group 1 Epsom Handicap–King Charles III Stakes double last spring and Pride was the first to admit the horse was under achieving.
But he never lost faith in the five-year-old’s ability and that was vindicated on Saturday when Ceolwulf responded to the addition of blinkers for the first time with a classy win.
“I have said for a long time I’ve thought he was the best horse I ever trained and it has been a long twelve months waiting for him to win again in the manner in which he won last year,” Pride said.
“A fair few firm tracks have played a role. I could throw a heap of excuses at you. No-one wants to hear them. I was just so happy to see him return to what I know he’s capable of.
“I’m sure he will have his time when he is very consistent. He has just been a little bit patchy with his form but he enjoyed having those blinkers on today.”
The opening stages of the race was run at a muddling pace before noted frontrunner Pride Of Jenni mustered speed and took control.
Chad Schofield gave Ceolwulf ($10) an economical run midfield on the rail and the horse sprinted better than his rivals to defeat Mr Brightside ($4.20 fav) by 1-3/4 lengths with Pier ($51) another half-neck away.
Schofield is Ceolwulf’s regular rider and was aboard for his brace of majors last spring and said Pride’s decision to make a gear change was a pivotal to the horse’s return to form.
“I’ve got so much belief in him,” Schofield said.
“Just a masterstroke by Joe, just keeping that ace up his sleeve for the grand final today. The blinkers brought out the best of him and, God, he was good.”
Pride said Ceolwulf would now head to Melbourne for one of the feature races on Champions Day at Flemington.
