Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
After finishing runner-up in the G1 Australian Derby (2400 metres) and G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000 metres) during the Autumn, Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) etched his name alongside a host of Group 1-winning graduates from the NZB Ready to Run sale including superstars such as Mr Brightside (Bullbars) (NZ) and Golden Sixty (Medaglia D'oro {USA}), alongside topline horses like Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) , Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), Lucky Sweynesse (NZ) (Sweynesse), Sharp N Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}), Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
A NZ$170,000 purchase by Joe Pride, the son of Tavistock (NZ) can be seen as somewhat of a bargain buy after Saturday’s victory took his career earnings to $1.69 million, with three wins and five placings in 13 starts. An extraordinary return on investment.
“That was fantastic,” Pride said after the victory. “We knew he had the right sort of profile coming into it, and to see him let down like that, it’s very, very satisfying. He’s just a good horse on the rise. He’s going to keep getting better with age and he’s so exciting. That was a real buzz.”
“We knew he had the right sort of profile coming into it (G1 Epsom H.), and to see him let down like that, it’s very, very satisfying... He’s going to keep getting better with age and he’s so exciting.” - Joe Pride
Ready to Run graduate
Managing Director of New Zealand Bloodstock Andrew Seabrook indicated it was a testament to Pride that he was able to identify the potential in Ceolwulf, especially considering the time recorded in his breeze up was nothing sensational.
“I remember Ceolwulf as a Tavistock with bit of length and scope and one that looked like he’d be a nice 3-year-old but certainly improve with age,” Seabrook said.
Andrew Seabrook | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“He ran 10.77 over the 200 metres, which is not an ultra-fast time but he moved beautifully in his breeze up and obviously Joe Pride could see the kind of horse he was going to grow into.
“Hats off to Joe for identifying him.
“We have certainly learned over the years it’s not a matter of running the fastest time in the breeze ups. Horses like Warmonger, Astrix and Ceolwulf are a testament to that. It’s all about letting horses stride out well within themselves and coping with the occasion.
“We have certainly learned over the years it’s not a matter of running the fastest time in the breeze ups. Horses like Warmonger, Astrix and Ceolwulf are a testament to that. It’s all about letting horses stride out well within themselves and coping with the occasion.” - Andrew Seabrook
“Ceolwulf was a high class 3-year-old who was there abouts in all of the top 3-year-old races and as we often see, he is a horse that has continued to improve and get better with age. Now that he is a 4-year-old and fully-matured we are really seeing the best of him. It’s testament to the sort of horse we breed and race in New Zealand.”
“Now that he (Ceolwulf) is a 4-year-old and fully-matured we are really seeing the best of him. It’s testament to the sort of horse we breed and race in New Zealand.”- Andrew Seabrook
The amount of stakes success that the sale has provided is unrivalled, providing more than 100 stakes winners in the past 5 seasons and a big reason why trainers like Pride keep going back.
Ceolwulf (NZ) as a 2-year-old at the 2022 NZB Ready to Run Sale | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“Joe has been a great supporter over the years, at both the Yearling Sale and Ready to Run Sale so, it is really pleasing to see Joe have a really, really high-quality Group 1 winner come out of it,” Seabrook said.
New Zealand-bred quality
“In recent years we have seen more and more horses specifically targeted towards this sale (Ready to Run). I think the success of the sale is a mixture of the quality on offer and the incredible horse people that are raising and preparing these horses here in New Zealand.”
Ceolwulf (NZ) clears away in the G1 Epsom H. on Saturday | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sold by Riversley Park at the 2022 NZB Ready to Run sale, Ceolwulf was bred by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay and boasts strong international bloodlines. The 4-year-old is out of unraced Shamardal (USA) mare Las Brisas, a half-sister to UK Listed winner Nantyglow (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) and from the family of G1 Irish Oaks winner Moonstone (Dalakani {Ire}) and French Group 1 winner Cerulean Sky (Darshaan{GB}), with Champion Hong Kong sprinter Wellington (All Too Hard) featuring further down the pedigree page.
Ceolwulf’s first triumph at the highest level marked the 12th Group 1 winner for the late Tavistock with further stakes success looking more than likely with Pride eyeing off even more Spring riches this preparation.
Best is yet to come
“He’s an amazing athlete, and as I say, the best is yet to come,” Pride said.
Joe Pride | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’re yet to discover what his best distance is. He could well back up in the Hill S.(Group 2, 1900 metres) next week, but I haven’t ruled out coming back here for the King Charles (Group 1, 1600 metres). There’s a lot of options. Let’s just sit on it for now and enjoy this win.”
2024 Ready to Run Sale
No doubt, NZB Ready to Run Sale will be flooded with local and international interest again this year as trainers and owners alike go in search of the next Group 1-winning graduate.
“The number one promotion for a sale is graduate success and we have certainly seen that,” Seabrook said.
“We know we are going to have really good participation from Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea and definitely right through Australia. We are going to have a very strong and diverse buying bench in attendance.
“We’re really looking forward to the breeze ups. They are two big days. We are looking forward to seeing how the horses handle the big occasion and how they stretch out over those 200 metres.”
The 2024 Ready to Run Sale will take place at Karaka on November 20 and 21, with selling starting at 11am local time each day. Breeze Ups will be held at Te Rapa Racecourse on October 21 and 22.
