Ceolwulf needs wet track to challenge Autumn Glow in Verry Elleegant Stakes

The prevailing weather in Sydney will decide if Ceolwulf can overthrow the elite mare Autumn Glow during the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick, trainer Joseph Pride has indicated.

A prohibitive $1.30 shot, Autumn Glow aims to make it 10 unbeaten runs on Saturday, with Pride admitting such short odds are appropriate.

His only proviso concerns heavier falls from the extensive rain outlook, positioning Ceolwulf as a possible spoiler on a markedly softened track.

"I'm not even thinking about winning chances because honestly, if that mare shows up with what she did the other day, you're probably not going to beat her at this stage of the preparation for us, with no blinkers and so early on," Pride said.

"His best chance of running really well would be if the track is wet, so I've got my eye on that.

"That's probably what punters want to hear from me, 'is there a chance your horse could win? Well yes, but it would have to be wet, I would think'."

Ceolwulf's appearance at Randwick offers Pride some reassurance.

He bypassed last year's Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) through injury woes, and a mere two weeks past his autumn prospects dimmed after the Apollo Stakes (1400m) yielded blood in nostrils upon return, a scenario often triggering a three-month stand-down.

A later scope confirmed clean lungs and throat for Ceolwulf, attributing the issue to a nasal vessel rupture instead of deeper bleeding.

Stewards cleared him to press on, with Pride confirming uninterrupted progress.

"As soon as I scoped him, I felt like he was entitled to be here, but going back to two weeks ago when I saw him post-race, it is a massive relief," Pride said.

"He didn't miss a walk. He missed nothing."

With three Group 1 mile wins at Randwick under his belt, yet sharpening as his prep advances, Pride targets a forward finish Saturday.

"Hopefully the first four or five and I'll be happy. That will be box ticked going forward and I'll know that he is on track. But I'm very happy with him."

Benefiting from rain are Pride's Liverpool City Cup (1300m) pair Coal Crusher and Cool Jakey, adept in slop, alongside Gatsby's expected bold showing in the last.

"I'm very happy with that horse," he said of Gatsby's.

"He's had a real change in his attitude and he's going well. He has put in three good, honest runs for me, and he'll go really well on Saturday."

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