Ceolwulf's tight win in G3 Neville Sellwood
Joe Pride’s 4-year-old gelding Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) will head to the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes after a tight 0.01l win in Tuesday’s G3 Neville Sellwood Stakes. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was second with Robert and Luke Price-trained Our Gold Hope (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in third.
“It wasn’t really the result that counted today - it is easy to say that after a race - but it is more about the performance,” Pride said.
“I’ll be honest, he presented like he was going to win by a couple of lengths but he didn’t do that. That was only his second go on a heavy track and while he went well on it in the Derby when he was younger, maybe he’d prefer something a bit firmer now.
Winner of the G1 Epsom and G1 King Charles III Stakes in the spring, both over a mile, Ceolwulf (NZ) took his earnings over $5.7 million with his fifth career win from 18 starts. A graduate of Riversley Park’s draft at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, he cost his trainer NZ$170,000. His dam, Las Brisas (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) has a colt foal by Sword Of State.
Just Folk to Doncaster after winning Prelude
Despite the short turnaround, trainer Gavin Bedggood is thinking of taking Tuesday’s G3 Doncaster Prelude winner 8-year-old gelding Just Folk (Magnus) to Saturday’s G1 Doncaster Mile. “We'll accept for the Doncaster and see how the weather plays out and make a call on Saturday. When that horse begins like that and wins the gates, he really gets into the groove and rolls along. It makes very heavy weather for those chasing,” Bedggood said.
Just Folk won by 1.22l from Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained New Endeavour (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) with Michael Freedman-trained Ducasse (Trapeze Artist) in third. Just Folk took his record to 10 wins from 46 starts and over $1.6 million in prizemoney, and it was his sixth black type victory.
General Salute adds G3 Star Kingdom Stakes
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou enjoyed the victory of 4-year-old gelding General Salute (Russian Revolution) in Tuesday’s rescheduled G3 Star Kingdom Stakes. Ridden by Tyler Schiller, who enjoyed a double with a win on 2-year-old colt Nepotism (Brutal {NZ}) in the G3 TL Baillieu Handicap, General Salute won by 0.12l from Joe Pride-trained Dragonstone (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) with Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained Ostraka (Pariah) in third.
It was the first stakes win for General Salute who has three wins in total from 10 starts, and was coming off a last start win at Kembla Grange, and he becomes the 12th stakes winner for Russian Revolution.
A half-brother to Group 2 winner Brutality (Shamus Award), General Salute is out of stakes-placed mare Star Salute (General Nediym), whose yearling filly by The Autumn Sun is Lot 188 in the upcoming Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and is being offered by HP Thoroughbreds.
Toronado filly wins on debut
Geelong’s Tuesday meeting saw Greg Eurell-trained 2-year-old filly Toronado Queen (Toronado {Ire}) win on debut. Ridden by Liam Riordan, she won by 1.25l from Hey Jessie (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Dancingonmyown (Jukebox).
Passed in by Collingrove Stud at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Toronado Queen becomes the third winner from Toronado’s (Ire) current crop of 2-year-olds. She is the fourth foal and second winner for unraced mare Queen Wu (All Too Hard) whose half-sister Isles Of Wonder (Manhattan Rain) is the dam of Listed winner Rainbiel (Toronado {Ire}).
Around the nation: Tuesday’s highlights
With Rosehill and Doomben both shifted to Tuesday, the day’s racing was loaded with more quality than normal for a Tuesday. There were four other meetings around the nation with 3-year-old gelding Beau Bandit (Brazen Beau) winning on debut at Newcastle. At the same meeting 3-year-old filly Flame Of Hestia (Too Darn Hot {GB}) took her record to two wins from three starts.
At Doomben, 3-year-old gelding Goodlucktome (Written Tycoon) won his third race in his last four starts.
Joliestar awaiting weather before decision
A decision on if Joliestar (Zoustar) will run in Saturday’s G1 TJ Smith Stakes will be based on the weather. “It would be nice to give her one more run before we tip her out for a spell and then come back for the spring,” Cambridge Stud chief executive Henry Plumptre told Loveracing.nz.
Joliestar | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We want a horse for next season and we don’t want her to get beaten by running her on a track that she might finish fifth or sixth on, she’s too good for that. Chris (Waller) is obviously hoping the weather improves so it’s all fingers crossed because the mare is very well and had a nice quiet trial last Friday. It’s a question of waiting and seeing what happens later in the week. Barrier draws and the weather we can’t fix.”
Hayes brothers excited about Scenic Point
Training trio, Ben, Will and JD Hayes, are excited about 2-year-old filly Scenic Point (Written Tycoon)’s chances in Saturday’s Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes. “We really, really like her and we expected her to run like that,” Ben Hayes told racing.com about her 5.5l debut win at Pakenham.
“We think she is one of our classier 2-year-olds. She's come through her run at Pakenham in great order and at this stage she will run at Caulfield.”
Tough market at NZB Online Yearlings
A Derryn filly, Lot 26, topped Tuesday’s New Zealand Bloodstock Online Yearling Sale at NZ$60,000 with the second top lot being a Sword Of State colt, Lot 4, who made NZ$35,000. “It was pretty tough going tonight, there’s no hiding from that. Things aren’t easy out there, and that’s really affecting the middle to lower market in particular – it’s a global theme,” said NZB’s Bloodstock Sales Manager Kane Jones in a press release.
Lot 26 - Derryn x Only In Jakarta (filly) | Image courtesy of Gavelhouse
“We were satisfied with the overall interest and proud of the work our team put in, but found the buyers to be incredibly selective, and they could afford to be. As always, quality horses were well identified and sold accordingly.
“I would like to commend and sincerely thank those buyers who participated and wish them the very best of luck with their purchases. I have no doubt we’ll see some smart horses come out of the Sale.”
Racing SA continues to sponsor eventing
Racing SA will sponsor the Adelaide Equestrian Festival in early May for the third year. “We are sponsoring the 3* competition which includes the largest field of competitors across the four days of the event,” Racing SA Industry Operations and Welfare Manager John Cornell told racingsa.com.au.
“We are really proud to sponsor this event because the Adelaide Equestrian Festival is on a par with how we look at Group 1 racing. It is a Group 1 day for the equestrian fields so we are very proud to be a part of it.
“We see this event as a great chance to build relationships with key equine stakeholders to help stimulate demand for retired thoroughbreds, and to showcase what we are doing with our career and welfare programs.
“Even though many of the spectators and competitors involved in the Equestrian Festival have a background in horses sometimes they aren’t aware what the thoroughbred industry is doing for racehorses in retirement.”
Vincent Ho hoping to return in May
Injured jockey Vincent Ho is heading to Switzerland to aid in his recovery from a fall where he sustained serious head injury and minor shoulder and neck fractures, and hopes to be back riding before the end of the season. “We’ll see. Maybe end of May or June or somewhere like this,” Ho told scmp.com.
“Actually maybe to start racing by then, but of course I need time to get back on the horse and see how it feels and gallop more and (ride in) trials until I feel good, and then we’ll start racing. There’s no certain time for me. I don’t try to set up a certain time to put pressure on myself. To let it heal is more important.
Vincent Ho | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“Some concussion symptoms can take years to recover for some people. Because the December one and the one lately were so close, that will have some influences into this one. Of course, the closer it gets, the next one will be more severe. That’s how it works.
“Since the Japan fall, I’ve had the connection to do rehab in Switzerland at the Olympic rehab centre with a lot of sports teams. We’ll have some training and testing for concussion. I think they are a bit more advanced with concussion rehab than us in Hong Kong at the moment.
“They know the limit when to push and when not to push. I can rely on them, because if I do it by myself I tend to push harder than normal. There are a few times that I don’t feel well afterwards because I just overdid it. It’s good to go and push almost to the limit but not quite. I will improve faster.”
HKJC hope to strike deal with Rugby Sevens
Hong Kong Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges is confident he can strike a deal with the Rugby Sevens tournament in 2026 to hold a meeting at Happy Valley during that week. Traditionally the racing during that tournament is at Sha Tin as the infield at Happy Valley is used for the rugby. “The hope next year is that we can make a real racing tourism attraction around the rugby with racing on the Wednesday, hopefully, in the Valley,” Engelbrecht-Bresges told scmp.com.
Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges | Image courtesy of The Hong Kong Jockey Club
“We have tried this for I don’t know how many years but I am a little bit more optimistic that next year maybe it can happen. That would be perfect. In the end, it’s a decision of the Football Club. They have the right to hold the 10s and if they say no, it’s no. There’s nothing we can do about it.
“We have made multiple attempts and I can understand they see certain financial (negatives). I have a little more of an optimistic view that this could be resolved.” If racing was to take place on the same day, the rugby would need to finish earlier than in previous years to accommodate both.
Mullen appointed Jockey Club Chief
Jim Mullen, the former CEO of Ladbrokes Coral, has been appointed Jockey Club group chief, bringing an end to the search for Nevin Truesdale's successor. Mullen joins the Jockey Club's from Reach plc, the largest commercial news publisher in the UK and Ireland, where he has been chief executive since 2019.
He will succeed interim group chief executive Charlie Boss, who has been in the post since December 2024, following Truesdale's decision to step down at the end of last year. Mullen, 54, will leave Reach plc, which runs more than 120 publishing brands including the Mirror, Daily Express, Daily Record and Daily Star, and begin his new role with British horseracing's largest commercial organisation and employer on June 1.
Jim Mullen | Image courtesy of The Jockey Club
Speaking about his appointment, Mullen said, “While The Jockey Club will be known to many as one of the most prestigious and established organisations in British sport, it is also a forward-thinking and exciting business with its focus firmly on the future.
“As a lifelong horseracing fan who has spent some of the best days of my life on racecourses, I could not be more proud to join The Jockey Club's passionate and dedicated team through what I hope will be an exciting new chapter.
“Publishing and horseracing might appear to be two very different industries on the surface. However, they share a focus on providing value and quality for the customer while nurturing happy and motivated teams across multiple sites and I am passionate about delivering both.”
Journalism joins Coolmore
Kentucky Derby contender 3-year-old colt Journalism (USA) (Curlin {USA}) will stand at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud following his racing career, the operation announced Monday evening. In addition, Coolmore partners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith will participate with the colt's current ownership group of Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and Robert LaPenta.
Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism ended his juvenile campaign with a win in the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity in December and returned at three with an eye-catching victory in the March 1 G2 San Felipe Stakes. He is expected to face off against last year's champion 2-year-old Citizen Bull (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) in the GI Santa Anita Derby on Saturday.
Journalism is the first foal out of graded stakes winner and multiple Grade I-placed Mopotism (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}) who was purchased by Don Alberto for US$1.05 million (AU$1.7 million) at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners signed the ticket on the colt at US$825,000 (AU$1.3 million) at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale.
Setback for Ancient Truth
Exactly a week after long-time ante-post G1 2000 Guineas favourite The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was ruled out of the race by Aidan O'Brien, Godolphin has revealed that the Charlie Appleby-trained Ancient Truth (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) will be another high profile absentee at Newmarket after the G2 Superlative Stakes winner was reported to have picked up a setback.
Ancient Truth (Ire) | Image courtesy of Godolphin
“Ancient Truth will no longer be aimed at the 2,000 Guineas due to a setback. He will be kept under veterinary supervision and a plan will be made for him for later in the season,” read a statement from Godolphin.
Sutherland’s opportunity in Dubai
Having fought her way back into the saddle from a freak accident nearly two years ago that nearly spelled the end of her career, jockey Chantal Sutherland is warmly embracing the opportunity to partner with her old mate Super Chow (USA) (Lord Nelson {USA}), a rough chance in a white-hot renewal of the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen this weekend.
Sutherland, 49, wintered in Dubai this year, working with trainer Bhupat Seemar and his team at Zabeel Stables. “It's been amazing. Dubai is such a beautiful place,” Sutherland said on Monday at Meydan trackwork. “Bhupat is world-class, he's an incredible trainer and manager and the whole team is just so fun to be around.”
The task at hand is daunting, facing the likes of defending champion Tuz (USA) (Oxbow {USA}) and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Straight No Chaser (USA) (Speightster {USA}), Sutherland is confident her mount is as good as he can be. “Super Chow is doing really well, I breezed him, he's strong, healthy and really happy and I guess that's all we can really ask for.”
