The heavy overnight rain in Sydney has been music to the ears of trainer Joe Pride, who is hoping the conditions continue to worsen for Ceolwulf’s attempt at a King Charles III Stakes three-peat.
Randwick was tipped into the heavy range on Wednesday, and while weather forecasts are varied, the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting up to 12mm more rain to fall this week.
Ceolwulf has a solid record on heavy ground, with two wins and a placing from four starts, including last year’s Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington on a bottomless track. Therefore, the prospect of Saturday’s conditions being testing holds no fears for his trainer.
“The more the better,” Pride said of the forecast for rain. “He’s a great wet tracker. After he won the King Charles last year and went to Melbourne, the track he won on there was bottomless and he thrived on it. It has fallen into place beautifully so far. I’ve got a few days to go, and I don’t take them for granted. Every moment before the race there’s an opportunity for things not to go to plan, but I’m extremely pleased with the horse and I couldn’t have scripted it better, at this stage anyway, with the set of circumstances we’re going into the race with.”
These circumstances also include the presence of the free-running frontrunner Pride Of Jenni. She was not originally expected to contest the King Charles but was among a select field of six to accept on Wednesday.
Her inclusion will ensure the $5 million race is run at a genuine tempo. While Pride Of Jenni will be difficult to beat, Pride is hopeful the Victorian mare might also cause problems for star galloper and race favourite Autumn Glow.
“She’s a very good mare (Pride Of Jenni), and her being there is another very good horse to beat,” Pride said. “But it potentially takes Autumn Glow out of her comfort zone a little bit more than what she has been these first couple of runs back. Under the scenario where it’s a sit and sprint home, I’m stating the obvious – she (Autumn Glow) is better than us at that. I want to take her to hopefully a place she hasn’t been before, and with Pride Of Jenni in the race there’s the potential to do that.”
Ceolwulf has contested the Epsom Handicap (1600m) in the two years leading up to his King Charles III Stakes (1600m) campaigns, and Pride has followed the same preparation again.
However, a potential start in the Cox Plate seven days later remains on the table.
The trainer has not ruled out backing-up Ceolwulf in the weight-for-age championship, which is being held at Flemington this year, but will not make a decision until after Saturday’s race.
“Probably a decision on Sunday morning about whether we take him down for the Cox Plate, and if he doesn’t he’ll go for the Champions Stakes,” Pride concluded. Ceolwulf will also have a key gear change in the King Charles II Stakes, with blinkers going back on for the first time this campaign.
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