19 Oct 2024Tavistock’s son Ceolwulf went to another level when he completed a magical Group 1 double at Randwick.
Joseph Pride’s ever-improving four-year-old had romped home in the Epsom Handicap earlier this month and added the King Charles III Stakes in the best possible fashion.
Our homebred did it the hard way after a tardy start and getting well back in the running before rider Chad Schofield urged him forward across the top.
Once into the open, Ceolwulf really cut loose and quickly reeled in crack mare Pride Of Jenni to post a highly impressive victory and his fourth career win with his stake earnings closing in on A$5 million.
“I said to the guys, if it doesn't happen this year, it'll happen next year,” Pride said.
“I've been confident he's on that path toward being one of the best horses around, I think he's already a star.
“We gelded him and I'll probably have some of the owners say, why did you geld him but I think he's a better horse now. The world's his oyster.”
Schofield said Ceolwulf didn’t break cleanly from the barrier and from that point was happy to let the horse find his rhythm.
“He didn’t step that well with me and then he travelled so well on the inside of Fangirl.
“He had so much work to do, but again he just gave me that devastating turn of foot and it’s probably a changing of the guard. He’s the new one, he’s a machine.”
Ceolwulf was sold on our behalf by Sam and Hana Beatson’s Riversley Park at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale where he was secured by Pride for $170,000.
He is a son of the unraced Shamardal mare Las Brisas, whose Almanzor filly sold to agent John Foote for A$240,000 at this year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
The mare recently produced a colt by Sword Of State and has been served by our highly-credentialled newcomer Chaldean.
Las Brisas’ half-sister Nantyglo was a Listed winner and from the family of four-time Hong Kong elite level winner Wellington, G1 Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone and the G1 Prix Saint-Alary winner Cerulean Sky.