Joe Pride facing G1 conundrum with Ceolwulf

An explosive second-up win by ATC Australian Derby placegetter Ceolwulf at Rosehill has put trainer Joe Pride in two-minds about the best path to pursue this spring.

Pride had picked out the Group 1 Metropolitan (2400m) as a target but said the turn of foot Ceolwulf demonstrated in Saturday’s Bankstown Sports Handicap (1500m) had all but forced him to entertain the Epsom Handicap (1600m).

“To see him do something like that so early in the spring, it is hard not to get excited,” Pride said.

“I was a little bit surprised by that. I would have been happy to see him grinding home as he is getting ready for 2000-metres.

“But that may open a few more options as it shows he might be a bit sharper.”

Ceolwulf ($3.10) settled worse than midfield before James Mcdonald allowed him to creep into the race coming to the 800m.

Once the four-year-old balanced for home, he lengthened stride beautifully and shot clear for an effortless two-length win over Riyazan ($13) with Amor Victorious ($2.30 betting fav) holding down third.

Pride said he would likely proceed as planned to the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on September 21 before deciding whether to bring Ceolwulf back in journey for the Epsom or extend him in distance.

“It is going to be a great journey because he is a beautiful horse to work with and in my mind, everything he does tells me he is going to keep getting better,” Pride said.

“The plan was to go to the Kingston Town Stakes next and I will probably still go there, but that win impressed me.

“I never get ahead of myself in this game but he’s a pretty special horse. I have been in love with him for such a long time.

“He is still an immature horse, he is a baby, but he comes out today and goes like that – wow.”