By Craig Kerry
Jockey Chad Schofield is unsure if Ceolwulf can expose the potential chink in Via Sistina’s armour first-up in the Apollo Stakes on Saturday at Randwick.
There is no doubt in his mind, though, that the Joe Pride-trained star has come back better again for an autumn campaign where he looms as a possible challenger to Australia’s queen of the turf.
Chad Schofield celebrates winning the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick on Ceolwulf.Credit: Getty Images
Ceolwulf’s stunning Epsom Handicap and King Charles III Stakes victories to cap his spring campaign have set up mouth-watering clashes with Via Sistina, which collected four group 1s, including a record-breaking Cox Plate win, in her most recent preparation to stamp herself as a class above.
The pair have trialled well against each other in the lead-up, adding to the anticipation for Saturday’s group 2 starting point over 1400 metres.
Premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller, who also has Fangirl, Atishu and Lindermann in the Apollo, has been pleased with Via Sistina’s return, which included an exhibition gallop last Saturday between races at Randwick.
“She’s come back really well,” Waller said.
“It’s a short break from the spring now to Apollo Stakes day, so I guess they don’t get too far away from you in terms of fitness, but at the same time, she’s had two trials and an exhibition gallop, so she’s well-prepared.
“She’s at the right weight, where she needs to be to be starting her prep, and mentally she’s great.
“More importantly, she’s acclimatising better because first prep she was just off the plane, out of quarantine. Then last prep, although it was spring, her coat didn’t come right until after the Cox Plate, so now she’s in our weather pattern, our season, so I think that’s a big plus.
“She’s very relaxed and happy.”
Via Sistina, which will have Kerrin McEvoy aboard from gate three, with usual rider James McDonald at Flemington, has been all the rage with punters, firming into a $1.85 Sportsbet favourite ahead of Ceolwulf ($4.40) and Fangirl ($4.50) in the eight-horse race.
The seven-year-old mare has won four of seven first-up starts, including both times resuming in Australia. While Waller was confident about her condition, he was wary of the shorter test when resuming. Last spring, Via Sistina just pipped Zougotcha to win the Winx Stakes first-up over 1400m.
Waller said Via Sistina would next race in the Chipping Norton Stakes, then the Ranvet or George Ryder Stakes, en route to her grand final in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. When asked if Fangirl, who won the Apollo Stakes last year, would take a different path to the Queen Elizabeth, he said: “It just depends on their first-up run.
“If Fangirl beat Via Sistina, no. If Fangirl is a long way off Via Sistina, we might look at something else. This year the All Star Mile is a group 1, which is a bit of a drawcard to me, and it would enable me to keep them apart.
“Fangirl is very effective over 1400 to a mile, so if there’s a chink in Via Sistina’s armour, it’s probably first up.”
Ceolwulf, which has gate seven on Saturday, has not won first-up in four attempts, but he clearly went to another level last spring after being gelded.
Like Waller, the Pride camp have been thrilled with the return of their No.1, saying he’s come back bigger and stronger. Schofield, whose only race rides on Ceolwulf were his two group 1 wins, agreed after partnering him in trials and trackwork.
“It’s very exciting, purely on what we saw at the end of his preparation last time and as well as that, how good he is now,” Schofield said.
“He’s in for a great prep. He definitely feels bigger and stronger.
“He’s as forward as he can be for a first-up run, but he’s certainly a horse who improves with racing through a preparation.
“Last preparation he was beaten in a benchmark race before going on to do what he did. But in saying that, he’s a better horse now.”
Schofield picked up a careless riding suspension last week and opted to serve it after Saturday’s meeting. It means he misses rides on the likes of Bel Merci and Public Attention the following week.
“It just wasn’t an option. There’s no way I’m giving up the ride on him,” he said.
Schofield also has a ride on the David Payne-trained Shohisha ($16) in the group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
“I’m actually really excited about her,” he said.
“She ran really well with the pattern against her at Gosford in the Guineas [when second], then she was too good in the Midway. It’s a big step up, but I think she’s a filly who can come into her own in these fillies races.”
