Aethelwulf's Stakes Rise Puts Melbourne Cup Firmly in Sight

Impressive stayer Aethelwulf executed a seamless move into stakes races, securing a dominant victory in the Group 3 $300,000 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) at Broadmeadow on Friday.

This win represents Aethelwulf's fifth success from just seven career starts and extends his winning streak to four, after he assumed control 1000 metres from the finish and maintained a commanding lead to the line.

Trainer Matthew Smith believes Aethelwulf is a stayer with significant potential and has not ruled out a tilt at the Group 1 $10 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.

"I was a bit nervous before the race, I must say," Smith commented. "But he seemed to get into a nice rhythm early and down the back it was a bit muddling and I guess Zac (Lloyd, jockey) thought they were going a bit slow so he let the horse stride and he was too good.

"Zac has so much confidence in this horse, from the first time he sat on him he's raving about the horse.

"Aethelwulf is still learning but if he pulls up well we might look at the Bart Cummings or The Metropolitan, one or the other."

The striking chestnut, Aethelwulf, is allocated a light weight of 51kg for the Melbourne Cup, and his Newcastle victory makes him eligible for a penalty.

However, Aethelwulf's current position in the Melbourne Cup order of entry is quite low, forcing Smith to carefully consider the four-year-old's immediate racing plans.

Aethelwulf subsequently shortened to $3 favouritism for the Group 2 $750,000 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on October 3. Concurrently, the Group 3 $300,000 Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on the same day offers a ballot exemption into the Melbourne Cup for its victor.

Despite moving from a benchmark 78 victory at Rosehill straight into Group 3 company, Aethelwulf ($1.20 favourite) effortlessly accounted for his opposition in the Newcastle Gold Cup, finishing more than two lengths ahead of Steel Blaze ($101), with Bella Montagna ($10) a further half-length back in third.

Jockey Zac Lloyd expressed his delight with Aethelwulf's dominant performance.

"He was up against some seasoned stayers and Group 1 winners and he dominated them," Lloyd stated.

"It's exciting because he's still so raw and he hasn't found himself in a race with a genuine tempo.

"They were crawling in the first 1000m but I have so much faith in this horse, no matter what I do he will be able to overcome it.

"So, I thought I would rather keep him happy and float around them to go to the front. He's got so much to learn but he's very promising."

The impressive win in the Newcastle Gold Cup has firmly placed Aethelwulf into the conversation for the 2026 Melbourne Cup, with his weight and potential penalty being significant factors.

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