Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Pride updated The Thoroughbred Report on plans for some of the stable’s established stars and offered insight into the next generation, even though he tends to take his time with his younger stock, who aren’t overly exposed early.
Joe Pride | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Older horses
Ceolwulf (NZ), 5-year-old gelding (Tavistock (NZ) x Las Brisas (GB) {Shamardal {USA}})
“He is a lovely horse that is hopefully going to be around for a fair few seasons yet. He is now reaching his peak. I would like to think that from now on, and through the next 12 months, is when he should be at the peak of his powers.
“It’s a scary thought when he has already won a couple of Group 1 races, he is a lovely horse, he has always been a bit immature. and what he did as a 3-year-old was a real bonus.
“I really love him. It’s very hard to find horses like him, he has come back great.
“I really love him (Ceolwulf). It’s very hard to find horses like him, he has come back great.” - Joe Pride
“He will go to the Chelmsford Stakes, and then the King Charles Stakes.”
Ceowulf (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Private Eye, 8-year-old gelding (Al Maher x Confidential Queen {Shamardal {USA}})
“He is back in Sydney, he will run in the Tramway, which is the same day as the Chelmsford. It's a set, weights and penalties race, which is ideal for him.
“He is just a horse that brings a smile to my face. He has been a super competitor at the top level for four or five seasons now.
“He (Private Eye) is just a horse that brings a smile to my face.” - Joe Pride
“He is a ripper, he is an easy horse to train, super competitive and while he hasn’t got as much time as Ceolwulf, he is not far off his peak that he was.
“The three-week gap into another 1400 metre race is ideal, and the 1400 metre trip seems to be his sweet spot.”
Private Eye | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Mazu, 7-year-old gelding (Maurice {Jpn}) x Chatelaine {Flying Spur})
“He has been accepted for The Health on Saturday, a Group 3 race over 1100 metres at Caulfield. If we do not decide to run there, he will go for the Concorde in Sydney, he is very well within himself and has been trialling very well.
“Like Private Eye, he is getting towards the twilight of his career, but he doesn’t seem to have lost too much, he’s got good speed and a great desire to be here.”
Mazu | Image courtesy of Sportpix
3-year-olds
“I’m quite backward with all my young horses, but I do have a few unexposed 3-year-olds that I quite like at an early stage. I am getting to find out their true ability now.” Pride said
Lupa Capitolina (NZ), 3-year-old filly (Almanzor (Fr) x Las Brisas (GB) {Shamardal {USA}})
Purchased by John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $260,000 from the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
“A filly I am pretty excited about is Lupa Capitolina, she is a half sister to Ceolwulf, she may make her debut on Saturday at Kembla Grange.
“She was purchased at Melbourne Premier from Cambridge Stud. She is a really nice filly, has had a few trials, and I think over ground and as a 2000 metre plus horse, she will be at her best.
“We don’t know to what level yet, but she could be quite talented, she is exciting.”
Lupa Capitolina (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Fernweh (NZ), 3-year-old gelding (Turn Me Loose (NZ) x Harlow (NZ) {Proisir})
Purchased by Mr LJ Howl for NZ$50,000 from the draft of Highview Stud at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale Book 2.
“I like a horse called Fernweh, he is a Turn Me Loose gelding that Leighton Howl has sent me over, he ran a really good second at Warwick Farm on debut.
“Since then, he has had a break and trialled nicely, he is out of a Proisir mare, and is a really good prospect.”
Fernweh (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Confidentiality, 3-year-old filly (Shalaa (Ire) x Confidential Queen {Shamardal {USA}})
Confidentiality was passed in short of her $500,000 reserve at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“Confidentiality is a half sister to Private Eye, and she has trialled up very nicely. I quite like her."
“I do have a nice group of 3-year-olds, I am convinced of that. They are a nice group of horses that I haven’t asked a lot of.” Pride summarised.
Confidentiality as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
2-year-olds
“I am a long way behind my 3-year-olds let alone my 2-year-olds.” Pride said.
“They have been broken in, and they have been in for a little look around, and that is about all they have done.”
Pride has, however, been active throughout the 2025 sales series across Australasia. Working alongside long-time stable clients Proven Thoroughbreds - a partnership that has delivered strong results, as well as purchasing a few under his own Pride Racing banner, the stable has secured yearlings this season by the likes of Ace High, Almanzor (Fr), Too Darn Hot (GB), All Too Hard, Brutal (NZ), Rebel Dane, Xtravagant (NZ), Shamus Award, I Am Invincible and Toronado (Ire).
Given the stable’s patient approach with their young horses, it would come as no surprise to see some of these gallopers develop into genuine excitement machines later in their careers.
