Wet no worry for Ceolwulf return in 2025 Winx Stakes

Ceolwulf is set to kick off his spring in the Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick, with trainer Joe Pride happy with the gelding’s lead-up despite the prospect of a bog track.

The surface was posted a Heavy 10 on Tuesday with more rain forecast for the week, continuing a wet stretch that saw Randwick’s August 9 program abandoned. Still, Pride said Ceolwulf would line up.

“It won’t be a problem for him,” Pride said. “He ran a place in the (Australian) Derby, and he won a race on the wet last prep. It’s not ideal to be first-up on heavy, but you can’t wait forever, especially with the weather in Sydney as you would never get a run into a horse if you were waiting for a dry track.”

“He’s had his two trials, which is good. He’s had a nice, even preparation into it and seems to be coming up well.”

Ceolwulf was one of the stars of last year’s carnival with wins in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap and King Charles III Stakes. Pride said a return to the King Charles is a likely target, with Melbourne races under consideration later in the spring.

“I haven’t finalised his program yet, but we’ll more than likely keep him in Sydney,” Pride said. “I would love to have him in Melbourne for at least a run or two, but that may not be until Flemington.”

While Ceolwulf has yet to race in Melbourne, Pride said the left-handed racing there is a question mark. “I’ve never been a fan of working reverse as our tracks aren’t set up for that and I feel like it’s a bit of a compromise to the preparation,” he said. “Once a horse gets to his age and he can’t run fast left and right, he might be in a bit of trouble. One thing he is, he’s an athlete.”