Star galloper Ceolwulf will not appear at Thursday’s Warwick Farm trials after suffering a minor setback earlier in the week.
Trainer Joe Pride confirmed the multiple Group 1 winner had sustained a superficial graze after becoming cast in his box, prompting connections to scratch him from his planned 900-metre heat.
While the setback has delayed his return, Pride said it would not derail the gelding’s autumn campaign, which is scheduled to begin in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 14.
“He must have gotten cast. He just has a graze, but I’ll scratch him from the trial tomorrow,” Pride said.
“He’ll be fine. As long as I can get it right pretty quickly, we’ll get to our first-up run.”
Ceolwulf signed off his spring in dominant fashion with successive victories in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) and the Champions Mile (1600m).
The gelding is now being aimed at the key weight-for-age races over the autumn, although Pride admitted he was disappointed the horse would not get another crack at Via Sistina following her recent retirement.
“It’s sad he doesn’t get a chance to compete against her again because he should have beaten her first-up last time (in the Winx Stakes) when Chad (Schofield), by his own admission, put in a bad ride,” Pride said.
“There looks like a bit of a changing of the guard in the weight-for-age races, so I’m hoping there is a little lull there and a moment for him to really shine.”
Stablemate Attica, winner of the Spring Champion Stakes, will step out in his second trial at Warwick Farm as he builds toward a return in the Hobartville Stakes (1400m).
Pride said the three-year-old would be given one more trial before resuming in earnest.
“Each trial, we will be asking him for a little bit more,” he said.
“He needs to be primed to run well first-up because second-up is a very important run, the Randwick Guineas. I don’t want to leave him underdone for a Group One race and that’s early in his prep.”
Thursday’s Warwick Farm session features two Group trial heats, with several carnival contenders engaged including Angel Capital, Joliestar, Stefi Magnetica, River Of Stars and Caulfield Guineas winner Autumn Boy.
