Joe Pride has a key question he hopes Ceolwulf can resolve this autumn – can he succeed at Group One level over 2000 metres?
The gelding’s form shows mixed signals.
His standout victories have been at a mile, yet he notched a placing in the Australian Derby as a three-year-old, along with a close success at Group 2 over middle distances later in his career.
He has also suffered heavy defeats in the previous two editions of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
With the backmarker boasting a powerful late surge preparing for his five-start autumn at Randwick this Saturday, Pride is devising plans to crack the distance puzzle.
“This preparation, I am about once and for all establishing if he can run 2000 metres as well as what he runs a mile,” Pride said.
“There’s no doubt he runs 2000 metres, but is he as effective?
“And does he get the right set-up for 2000? He never seems to get speed on, and that might be the defining factor for him. He might get in a 2000 metre race that is run a bit different and be a different horse.”
Ceolwulf gets two opportunities to demonstrate his stamina over middle distances – on his fourth outing in the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington and concluding with the Queen Elizabeth.
But initially, he must navigate Saturday’s Apollo Stakes (1400m) against unbeaten mare Autumn Glow and her top stable companion Aeliana.
Although Ceolwulf has yet to win first-up, he has delivered bold efforts, such as a strong fourth behind Fangirl in last year’s equivalent race when not at peak condition.
Pride believes several factors contributed to the gelding’s underperformance last autumn and has addressed the primary issue.
“I’m convinced one of them was that I had him too big,” he said.
“I had him up around 530 kilos for his first-up run last time and he’s 510 now. I’m not a believer in a fighting weight for a horse so much, but with this horse, there is just a weight he runs well at and it’s around that (510 kilos).”
On Saturday, Ceolwulf should unleash his strongest finish late, and Pride would be pleased with a placing “in the first four or five” in the Apollo Stakes where punters can explore the Australian betting sites.
He plans subsequent starts every fortnight, aiming to have the gelding primed for his last two key runs, which will influence his future path.
“It is always my aim to find out what the one perfect formula is for each horse, and I’ll repeat it all day long,” Pride said.
“That’s why I want to work it out with Ceolwulf. I don’t want to waste any more time running him in 2000 metre races if he can’t perform at his best at that distance.
“I’ll keep him a miler for the rest of his life if I have to. I’ve just got to find that out.”
The post Ceolwulf back for career-defining campaign first appeared on Just Horse Racing.
