Heavy overnight rain in Sydney has been music to the ears of Joe Pride, who says it’s a case of the wetter the better ahead of Ceolwulf’s attempt at a King Charles III Stakes three-peat.
Randwick tipped into the heavy range on Wednesday, and while weather forecasts remain wide-ranging, the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting up to 12mm more rain to fall this week.
Ceolwulf has two wins and a placing from four starts on heavy ground, including in last year’s Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington, so the prospect of Saturday’s conditions being testing holds no fears for his trainer.
“The more the better,” Pride said of the forecast for rain.
“He’s a great wet tracker. After he won the King Charles last year and went to Melbourne, the track he won on there was bottomless and he thrived on it.
“It has fallen into place beautifully so far. I’ve got a few days to go, and I don’t take them for granted. Every moment before the race there’s an opportunity for things not to go to plan, but I’m extremely pleased with the horse and I couldn’t have scripted it better, at this stage anyway, with the set of circumstances we’re going into the race with.”
Those circumstances also include the presence of free-bowling frontrunner Pride Of Jenni, who wasn’t originally expected to contest the King Charles but was among a select field of six to accept on Wednesday.
She will ensure the $5 million race is run at a genuine tempo, and while she’ll be hard to get past in her own right, Pride is hopeful the Victorian mare might also prove a fly in the ointment for star galloper and race favourite Autumn Glow.
“She’s a very good mare (Pride Of Jenni), and her being there is another very good horse to beat,” Pride said.
“But it potentially takes Autumn Glow out of her comfort zone a little bit more than what she has been these first couple of runs back. Under the scenario where it’s a sit and sprint home, I’m stating the obvious – she (Autumn Glow) is better than us at that.
“I want to take her to hopefully a place she hasn’t been before, and with Pride Of Jenni in the race there’s the potential to do that.”
Ceolwulf has arrived at the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) via the Epsom Handicap (1600m) for the past two years, and Pride has replicated that formula again.
However, what could be new is what comes after, with a potential shot at the Cox Plate seven days later still on the table.
The trainer hasn’t ruled out backing-up Ceolwulf in the weight-for-age championship, run this year at Flemington, but won’t make a call until after Saturday’s showdown.
“Probably a decision on Sunday morning about whether we take him down for the Cox Plate, and if he doesn’t he’ll go for the Champions Stakes,” Pride said.
Ceolwulf will also have a key gear change in the King Charles II Stakes with blinkers going back on for the first time this campaign.
