Multiple Group One winner Ceolwulf will be a notable absentee from the Warwick Farm barrier trials after suffering a minor setback.
Trainer Joe Pride reported the horse was being treated for a graze to his leg after seemingly becoming cast in his box, ruling him out of his scheduled 900m heat on Thursday.
It was to have been his first appearance of the year and while not ideal, Pride said it should have minimal effect on Ceolwulf’s build-up as he prepared to return in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 14.
“He must have gotten cast. He just has a graze, but I’ll scratch him from the trial tomorrow,” Pride said.
“He’ll be fine. As long as I can get it right pretty quickly, we’ll get to our first-up run.”
Ceolwulf closed out a consistent spring with back-to-back wins in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and the Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington.
He is being prepared for the major middle-distance weight-for-age races this autumn and Pride admits he’s disappointed the horse won’t get a rematch with Via Sistina following news of her retirement on Sunday.
“It’s sad he doesn’t get a chance to compete against her again because he should have beaten her first-up last time (in the Winx Stakes) when Chad (Schofield), by his own admission, put in a bad ride,” Pride said.
“There looks like a bit of a changing of the guard in the weight-for-age races, so I’m hoping there is a little lull there and a moment for him to really shine.”
Barn mate and Spring Champion Stakes winner Attica will step out for his second trial at Warwick Farm on Thursday as he readies for a traditional three-year-old campaign, starting with the Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 21.
Pride is rapt with how the horse is shaping up, confirming Attica will have one more trial next month to ensure he hits the ground running.
“Each trial, we will be asking him for a little bit more,” he said.
“He needs to be primed to run well first-up because second-up is a very important run, the Randwick Guineas. I don’t want to leave him underdone for a Group One race and that’s early in his prep.”
Thursday’s trials session includes two Group heats featuring a host of carnival aspirants, including top sprinters Angel Capital and Joliestar, high-class mares Stefi Magnetica and River Of Stars and Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy.
