Trial report: Ceolwulf plotting path to Queen Elizabeth, Lady Shenandoah revs engine ahead of return

6 min read
Several of Sydney's top gallopers hit the Warwick Farm turf on Thursday morning, with Ceolwulf and Lady Shenandoah winning heats over Via Sistina, Fangirl, and Switzerland. Godolphin's Broadsiding and Golden Mile made their racetrack returns, and Aeliana sets herself on an Oaks path.

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Pride’s Ceolwulf leads home Waller’s stable stars

Joseph Pride’s dual Group 1 winner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) led home a star-studded opening trial at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning, followed 1.68l behind by Chris Waller's super mare Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), with stablemate Fangirl (Sebring) on her heels. Their G1 Empire Rose Stakes-winning stablemate Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) finished fifth in her second trial of the month.

Speaking to Racing HQ, Pride confirmed that the 4-year-old gelding will resume in the G2 Apollo Stakes in mid February, before heading to the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes, which will inform where he runs before his intended autumnal grand finale in the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Last year John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $260,000 for his half-sister by Almanzor (Fr) at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. The filly now named Lupa Capitolina (NZ) has also made her way to Pride’s stable, who said that it is still “early days” with her.

In December, Willingham signed the docket for Via Sistina’s 3-year-old half-sister Via Sienna (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) at the 2024 Arqana Deauville Vente d’Élevage for €400,000 ($668,168). She has yet to race.

Joseph Pride | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Lady Shenandoah revs engine in high calibre heat

The second trial at Warwick Farm on Thursday was also packed with some of Sydney’s top gallopers, with star Waller filly Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) leading the field home, letting down impressively to win by 1.41l over returning G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Switzerland (Snitzel). $1 million Silver Eagle winner Ostraka (Pariah) finished third, with G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) further down the field.

The trial was also the first public outing for Godolphin’s Golden Mile (Astern), returning to the racetrack as a gelding after injury curtailed his stud career in the spring.

Earlier in the weekend, Aeliana’s co-owner Denise Martin confirmed to racing.com that Waller has Oaks plans for the G3 Carbine Club Stakes-winning 3-year-old.

“Chris has a very interesting program in mind at the moment, and it's a very exciting one," she said. “It starts off with the (G1) Surround on the first of March and possibly a fortnight later in the (G2) Phar Lap, and if that went well, she could progress to the (G1) Vinery and then ultimately the Oaks if she was handling things well.”

It was announced earlier in January that Switzerland is being aimed at the G1 Lightning Stakes first up, with planning for a trip to Royal Ascot already underway.

Chris Waller and Denise Martin | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

A half-brother to Lady Shenandoah by Maurice (Jpn) will be on offer at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, as Lot 187 in Arrowfield Stud’s draft, and Lot 76 in the same draft is a full brother to Switzerland. Earlier this week, Star Thoroughbred and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) paid $300,000 to take home Aeliana’s half-sister by Proisir out of Rich Hill Stud’s draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Strada Varenna and Tuscany impress in hot trial return

Tuscany (Zoustar) might have won by a bob of the head in his trial at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning, but Bjorn Baker’s Strada Varenna (Street Boss {USA}) showed serious speed to keep up with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt, with a 4.5l gap back to the rest of the field.

The 2-year-old filly won a September trial before being put away for the spring, whereas Tuscany was beaten just 1.96l in the G3 Breeders Plate before taking a break.

Tuscany as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis

A full brother to Tuscany and talented entire Schwarz (Zoustar) will be offered as Lot 198 in Widden Stud’s Easter draft in April. Summer Sham delivered a full sister in the spring, before revisiting Zoustar in October.

A daughter of G2 QTC Cup winner Varenna Miss (Redoute’s Choice), who is a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Criterion, Strada Varenna was bought at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $100,000 by Newgate Bloodstock from Emirates Park. Anthony Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) spent $260,000 earlier this month to secure her half-sister by Tassort.

Broadsiding and Private Life gear up for more Group 1s

More spring stars stepped out in the third Warwick Farm trial, won by Richard Litt’s Bacchanalia (Exceed And Excel), with John O'Shea and Tom Charlton’s Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) at his second trial since returning as a gelding. G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Private Life (Written Tycoon) finished a comfortable fourth for the Waller stable, and the trial also saw the return of Godolphin’s G1 Golden Rose winner Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}).

Private Life’s Group 3-winning dam Aliyana Tilde (Snitzel) has a colt by Admire Mars (Jpn) at foot, and was subsequently covered by Dundeel (NZ). Garden Of Swans (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), dam of Linebacker and half-sister to Group 1-winning sire Mukhadram (GB), has a yearling by Dundeel yet to be offered for sale.

Texas and Pazyryk go head to head at Warwick Farm

Bjorn Baker’s debutante Texas (Nicconi) and a much improved Pazyryk (Lonhro) went toe-to-toe in a speedy juvenile trial at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning, with the Yulong-owned Algorithmic (Zoustar) chasing hard on their heels 2l behind.

Trained by James Cummings, Pazyryk finished down the track in two pre-Christmas trials and displayed a greater turn of foot in her return, finishing 0.09l behind Texas.

Texas as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

Bred by Godolphin, Pazyryk is the second living foal from dual Group 3 winner Raiment (Street Cry {Ire}).

Texas is a half-brother to R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic-winning Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready). His half-sister by Spirit Of Boom was purchased for $200,000 by Bennett Racing at the Gold Coast this month.

Aleppo Pine ready for route to Diamond

Godolphin 2-year-old Aleppo Pine (Blue Point {Ire}), winner of his only start in December at Ballarat, was a strong winner of his jump-out at Caulfield Heath on Thursday morning.

The colt readied himself with a softer run at Werribee a fortnight ago, and is currently third in the betting for the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes.

Aleppo Pine is a half-brother to five-time Group 2 winner Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}), multiple Group-winning Vilana (Hallowed Crown), and dual Listed winner Athiri (Lonhro).

Dominant trial winner for Bivouac at Kembla

Benevac (Bivouac) looked to have plenty of promise in the way he accelerated away from the pack in a Kembla Grange trial on Thursday morning. The 2-year-old colt, trained by Ciaron Maher, debuted in a trial earlier month, where he finished third.

Benevac as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

Benevac is a son of Listed Keith Mackay Handicap-placed Houston Benefactor (Encosta De Lago). Darley’s Bivouac has three winners to date, led by G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes winner Intention (NZ).

Trial report
Warwick Farm
Kembla Grange
Ceolwulf (NZ)
Via Sistina (Ire)
Benevac
Texas
Tuscany
Pazyryk
Strada Varenna
Aleppo Pine
Broadsiding
Caulfield Heath
Private Life