King pair: Pride’s joy as Ceolwulf goes back-to-back in King Charles Stakes

Joe Pride, always available to the media, has been answering questions about Ceolwulf’s drop in form since his breakthrough back-to-back group 1 wins this time last year.

The Warwick Farm trainer and jockey Chad Schofield have searched for answers, but always believed the gelding could repeat the effort at the top level.

For Pride, the battle made Ceolwulf’s successful defence of his King Charles III Stakes (1609m) title “one of the most satisfying wins. Full stop.”

Schofield, who won the Epsom Handicap and King Charles on Ceolwulf last spring, navigated a path and found clear air at the 300m mark before the Tavistock gelding, a $9.50 chance, surged to a one-and-three-quarter-length victory over Mr Brightside.

“That was absolutely amazing,” Pride said. “I watched it down there with my two daughters who never come to the racetrack, so it was really special and just 12 months in the waiting really.

“Twelve months ago I thought, ‘Here he is, the best horse I’ll ever train’, and I spent another 12 months waiting to see that again.”

The addition of blinkers proved a masterstroke from Pride.

“I think the blinkers had a fair bit to do with it today, and I was really happy when Chad said to me the track is not as firm as it was Epsom Day,” he said.

“Just that little bit and I think that’s all he needs just to be able to get his toe into the ground. I’ve stuck with Chad and I’m so happy for him to get the result there today.

“Amazing, and my other special horse, Private Eye, became my most winningest horse today, getting his 14th win [the Moonga Stakes at Caulfield]. They have been two incredible horses over the past couple of seasons and this horse is a long way from being finished. There’s plenty of wins to come.”

Pride was looking to features at Flemington next for Ceolwulf, who took his career earnings past $9 million.

The victory was Pride’s third major on the Everest program over the past three years after Think About It won the showpiece in 2023 and Ceolwulf’s victory last year.

He hoped the run would lead to more chances to expand his operation.

“I worked 54 this morning.” Pride said. “I’m looking to expand. I can’t get any more boxes, but when I do, we’re growing the right way.

“I want to get to about 70, 75. I can handle that easily. I’m very much a hands-on trainer. It’s out of sight, out of mind for me – I can’t have horses in another state or another location. They need to be there with me watching them.”

Heathcote keeps Queensland’s hot streak going

Rob Heathcote has a jar on his office desk containing two bone chips that were removed from Rothfire’s legs, which serves to remind him every day just how lucky he is to have the eight-year-old still racing.

Piloted by Zac Purton, Rothfire overcame a difficult barrier to take out the $2 million group 3 Sydney Stakes – and Heathcote said it was close to the best win of his career.

Buffering became a household name a decade ago when he won all over the country, as well as Dubai, and that remains at the top of the list for Heathcote.

“But I tell you what, this goes close [to topping that],” Heathcote said. “This horse, to defy veterinary science, I have two bone chips that were taken out of his sesamoids on my desk, and I look at them every time we put a saddle on him.

“It means so much to get him through the wars. Now here he is, winning a biggie.”

Rothfire has mixed it with the best throughout his career, and was still able to recapture his best form after having the bone chips removed after the 2020 Golden Rose.

The win for Queensland-based Heathcote continued the Sunshine State’s dream sporting run this spring, on the back of the Brisbane Broncos and Lions’s respective triumphs in the NRL, NRLW and AFL.

“Bugger the cockroaches,” a smiling Heathcote said.

Purton only picked up the ride when Nash Rawiller, who steered the horse last start in the Manikato but was unavailable on Saturday because of commitments down south – recommended he take the ride.

Cronin runner beaten like a Gong in Silver Eagle

Parramatta Eels legend Mick Cronin passed on the chance to join the Newtown Jets, but remained friends with John Singleton, and was even roped into the ownership of one of ‘Singo’s’ horses that ran at Randwick on Saturday.

The aptly-named Gerringong, Cronin’s home town, finished ninth in the Silver Eagle behind Linebacker, the race favourite who was way too good for his rivals, and right on track for a crack at the Golden Eagle in a fortnight.

Because of Cronin’s honesty when it came to leaving the Eels for the Jets all those years ago, he said Singleton had never forgotten it. For those who do not know the story, Singleton flew Cronin from Gerringong to Henson Park to sell him the Jets’ dream.

“We’ve caught up a couple of times every year since, and I often tell Singo had I gone to the Jets, he probably wouldn’t be talking to me now,” Cronin said. “I’ve always been a punter. I had a horse called Noble Connection, he won about 19 races. It’s a bit of fun.”

Fit for a Queen

Paul Messara has the late Queen Elizabeth to thank for paving the way for Clear Thinking to enter his stable.

Clear Thinking won The Kosciusko when the seas parted at the top of the straight for her and jockey Tyler Schiller and they powered away to beat Gallant Star, the ever-reliable gelding part-owned by Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe, with Chidiac third.

Arrowfield Stud’s Jon Freyer later confirmed they had bought the mare after the Queen’s passing in 2022, when the royal stud wanted to reduce its racing portfolio.

“She was recuperating from an injury, we were offered her and we bought her,” Freyer said. “We essentially bought her for breeding purposes, but it was the wrong time of year [for breeding], and Paul grabbed her out of the paddock one day, not realising we had bought her as a broodmare, put her into work, and realised she went alright.”

Clear Thinking has now won five of her seven starts, and Messara was convinced she could measure up in group 1 company, especially if conditions suited, and there was a wet track.

Zac Lloyd rode Clear Thinking at her last two starts in the autumn but jumped on to Gallant Star.

Too rude

A Racing NSW official suggested Channel Seven cameras head to the public area to film a few vox-pops with young racegoers early in the day. But the official said none of the content could be shown on air because of the foul language and revealing dresses being worn. One young female patron in a mini-skirt even attempted the splits.

Perfect five for Waller

Chris Waller trained the first five runners home in the St Leger Stakes – an impressive feat, but still one short as his first six across the line in the Chelmsford Stakes back in 2014.

Of the quintet, only More Felons – which was always going to be one-paced late because they went so slow early – will push on to the Melbourne Cup.

Waller was quick to point out James McDonald had been given the pick of the stable’s rides, but opted for William Haggas’ import Sam Hawkens, who strolled along in front, but gave little at the top of the straight.

Everest Day consolation for Smith

Idle Flyer powered past favourite Perfumist to win the Angst Stakes, providing Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith with a nice Everest Day consolation prize.

In a perfect world, Smith would have been saddling up Headwall in the Everest, only for his stable star to go amiss, and require a second three-month stint on the sidelines.

Headwall looked ready for a decent spring when he resumed with an excellent win in the Concorde Stakes.

As for Idle Flyer, Smith said the Golden Eagle could be a nice option next start.

American owner out of pocket

American businessman John Stewart paid a staggering $3 million at last year’s Easter Sales for a filly he later named Ernoux.

Stewart would not have known whether to laugh or cry when tuning in from the US to watch Ernoux resume in a lowly maiden at Newcastle on Saturday.

She ran fourth, taking her career earnings to $25,800 – just a lazy $2,974,200 shy of her sales price.