Joe Pride will sit back and look for another spring target after Ceolwulf roared away with the Epsom at Randwick yesterday.
Chad Schofield sat back in the field three-wide before easing Ceolwulf ($4 fav) the widest in the straight and racing away to win by 1¼ lengths from Tom Kitten ($12) with Royal Patronage ($6.50) three-quarters of a length back in third.
Chad Schofield rides Ceolwulf to a win in the Epsom on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
“That was fantastic. 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,” Pride said.
“He’s just a good horse on the rise. He’s just going to keep getting better with age and he’s so exciting. “He’s got a great engine. I see it every time he runs, the way he recovers from races and track gallops. He’s an amazing athlete, and as I say, the best is yet to come.”
Ceolwulf could back up in the Hill Stakes at Rosehill next week, but Melbourne remains an option.
“We’re yet to discover that [what his best distance is]. He could well back up in the Hill Stakes next week but I haven’t ruled out, you could come back here for the King Charles,” Pride said.
Airman soars to new heights
Michael Hawkes was left to encourage Everest slot-holders to ring after Airman’s surprise Premiere Stakes victory that left question marks over the past two Everest winners Giga Kick and Think About It.
Zac Lloyd drove Airman ($41) through the fence to win in a blanket finish from Mazu ($7) and Bella Nipotina ($2.40 fav), the trio separated by two head margins.
“To be fair – because he’s been a bit out of form – but you know what, this is the best of the best of what’s around and he’s put paid to them,” Hawkes said.
“We’ve always known he’s had the ability but to do what he did today, he’s beat some creditable horses, and he’s a good horse on his day. We’ve got no problems in talking to anybody [about the Everest]. He’s up there with them. He’s proven he can do it.”
Airman wins the Precise Air Premiere Stakes.Credit: Getty Images
But the drama was behind them with Giga Kick and Think About It failing to be in the finish as many expected.
Giga Kick didn’t let down with his usual big sprint, instead finishing fourth.
″A common run but he will improve,″ James McDonald said, summing up Giga Kick. ″He is building toward something. It was an OK run.″
Stewards questioned the tactics which saw Think About It taken back to last before only beating one home, albeit only 2 lengths from the winner.
“I was given instructions to go back and didn’t have any latitude to do anything else,” Collett told stewards, despite Think About It being one of the best to begin.
Think About It’s trainer Joe Pride confirmed the instructions and said they had expected more speed in the race, which was set by Pride’s other runners Coal Crusher and Mazu.
“It was the best reverse team riding you will never see,” Pride said. “We thought they would go much faster than that.”
Lady Shenandoah takes flight
There was a real chance Lady Shenandoah wasn’t going to be in the Flight Stakes at Randwick yesterday, but instead of being at home, she was demolishing a group1 field of fillies.
When premier trainer Chris Waller had to scratch unbeaten filly and long-time favourite Autumn Glow because of a bone chip in her knee on Friday, the insurance policy of Lady Shenandoah was activated and paid out the ultimate dividend.
“She was going to go to the Thousand Guineas because we thought another filly might be running in this race today,” Waller admitted.
“She was entered for the trials yesterday, but obviously she’s got a little bit up her sleeve.
“We won’t get too carried away, she’s still filling out and developing, but she’s got a group 1 next to her name.
“It was a tough week but I’m not going to get emotional about it because I’m so blessed to have these types of horses in the stable.
“Zac Lloyd sat Lady Shenandoah ($3.10) in the one-one and at only her second run of the preparation she exploded away from rivals to win by 3 lengths, with Harlem Queen ($7.50) and favourite Snow In May ($2.60) filling minors.
“It was like sitting on a rocket,” Lloyd said. “When she let go she went so quick and for the last 200m I was just holding her together.
“I’m just lucky to be on her.”
Kings reign as Tulloch grabs trifecta
Thoroughbreds Tulloch Lodge began the juvenile season in style with the trifecta in the Breeders Plate for the second consecutive year as King Kirk provided freshman stallion Ole Kirk with the perfect start to his career at Randwick yesterday.
Rachel King came with the last run as King Kirk ($8) grabbed stablemate Tempestuous ($9) late to score by a half-neck. Leader North England ($4.60) was a short head back in third.
“It is good to have all those horses come out and perform,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
“He’s a lovely horse [King Kirk]. Everything that he’s done to date has just been very professional.”
Slipper looks good fit for Bel Merci
Thoroughbreds John Thompson is already looking towards the Golden Slipper after Bel Merci toyed with her rivals in the Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick.
Chad Schofield took luck out of the equation, going straight to the front on Bel Merci ($3.50 fav) and had 1 lengths to spare from O’Ole ($7.50) with Memo ($4.80) a long neck back in third.
“She was forward enough to be here, but that was on natural ability, and we will put her away now and let her improve for a Slipper preparation,” Thompson said.
Schofield didn’t want to lead but just let Bel Merci find the front and do her thing. “I just let her slide and kept her happy,” he said.
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