Joe Pride is eager for Ceolwulf to provide clarity this autumn on whether he can claim Group One honours at 2000 metres.
The gelding’s achievements send mixed messages.
His principal successes span a mile, but include a Australian Derby placing aged three and a slender Group 2 victory at extended trip in maturity.
He has faced comprehensive losses in recent Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) runnings.
Now the surging backmarker readies a five-start autumn at Randwick Saturday, as Pride maps solutions to the staying enigma.
“This preparation, I am about once and for all establishing if he can run 2000 metres as well as what he runs a mile,” Pride said.
“There’s no doubt he runs 2000 metres, but is he as effective?
“And does he get the right set-up for 2000? He never seems to get speed on, and that might be the defining factor for him. He might get in a 2000 metre race that is run a bit different and be a different horse.”
Two tests await to affirm his middle-distance prowess: fourth start in the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington, then the Queen Elizabeth finale.
First hurdle is the Apollo Stakes (1400m) this Saturday, facing unblemished mare Autumn Glow plus stable star Aeliana.
No first-up wins for Ceolwulf, though he has flashed ability, like last year’s eye-catching fourth to Fangirl here when below par.
Pride attributes last autumn’s shortfalls to various elements, fixing the foremost.
“I’m convinced one of them was that I had him too big,” he said.
“I had him up around 530 kilos for his first-up run last time and he’s 510 now. I’m not a believer in a fighting weight for a horse so much, but with this horse, there is just a weight he runs well at and it’s around that (510 kilos).”
Saturday sees Ceolwulf primed for a late charge, Pride happy with a top “in the first four or five” as the Apollo Stakes offers compelling online bookmakers.
Races every fortnight thereafter build to peak for his campaign’s decisive duo, steering his career trajectory.
“It is always my aim to find out what the one perfect formula is for each horse, and I’ll repeat it all day long,” Pride said.
“That’s why I want to work it out with Ceolwulf. I don’t want to waste any more time running him in 2000 metre races if he can’t perform at his best at that distance.
“I’ll keep him a miler for the rest of his life if I have to. I’ve just got to find that out.”
The post Ceolwulf back for career-defining campaign first appeared on Just Horse Racing.