Written by Trent Masenhelder
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Group 1-winning trainer Joseph Pride sung the praises of Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), following the 3-year-old’s impressive win - his first - in Race 1 at Warwick Farm.
Following an encouraging debut, where he finished this behind Manwe (Kementari) at Canterbury on August 16, Ceolwulf was sent off at $4.80 in the 1400-metre maiden. With Sam Clipperton on board, the colt enjoyed a lovely run in transit, parked one out, one back. He peeled three-wide at the top of the straight, and, although racing greenly, Ceolwulf was strong in the run to the line, going on to prevail by 0.41l.
“He’s a really nice colt. He’s got a long way to go in terms of his development and what he’s got to learn, but he’s kicked off his career well,” Pride told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“It’s not very often you see horses by this stallion in Tavistock show up, either at this age or over a shorter trip.
“He’s really exciting, I really like him.”
“He’s (Ceolwulf) really exciting, I really like him.” - Joseph Pride
Pride said he will give strong consideration to starting Ceolwulf in Saturday week’s G3 Ming Dynasty Quality at Rosehill.
“I sort of had in mind if he won (on Wednesday) that we would go to the Ming Dynasty, which would mean leaving him at 1400 metres and it’s only a week-and-a-half away, but he’s got to pull up well to do that,” Pride explained.
“I would potentially like to geld him, but every time he steps out there he makes me think twice about it, because he’s showing so much ability, so he’s safe for now.”
Joseph Pride | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Asked if the colt has always shown promise, Pride said: “Definitely. Right from the start.
“He was a Ready to Run horse from Karaka, he had breezed up quite well. I was happy to take the punt on him.
“He has always shown a fair bit, which has always encouraged us to keep pushing him along, even at this early age.”
“He (Ceolwulf) has always shown a fair bit, which has always encouraged us to keep pushing him along, even at this early age.” - Joseph Pride
Ceolwulf is the first foal from the unraced Shamardal (USA) mare Las Brisas (GB) and she is a half-sister to the Listed scorer Nantyglo (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}). The colt is closely related to the stakes winners Cerulean Sky (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), Moonstone (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Honolulu (Ire) - Ireland’s Champion 3YO Stayer in 2007, among others. The Hong Kong-based Group 1-winning sprinter Wellington (All Too Hard) hails from this family.
Bred by Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay, the colt was consigned by Riversley Park at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. He was knocked down to Pride for NZ$170,000.
Ceolwulf (NZ) as a 2-year-old | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Clipperton believes Ceolwulf has a bright future.
“He’s a really nice horse. It’s quite amazing the improvement he’s shown from his trials into his first start and then again into (on Wednesday),” he said.
“Being a Tavistock, he’s bred to get out over further, but he’s certainly got good speed in his legs.
“Being a Tavistock, he’s (Ceolwulf) bred to get out over further, but he’s certainly got good speed in his legs.” - Sam Clipperton
“He’s doing everything just on raw ability and his mind certainly isn’t 100 per cent on the job yet, but he has his fair share of ability and I think we will see the best of this horse next time in… he’s going to furnish into a lovely horse in six months’ time.
“He’s got an engine there under the bonnet and when he grows up from a boy to a man that’s when we will see the best of him.”
