Trainer J. Pride Spells CEOLWULF After Verry Elleegant Stakes Run

Racing NSW announces trainer J. Pride has decided to spell CEOLWULF following his performance in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick. The gelding is removed from Autumn Carnival betting markets, an administrative decision that immediately sidelines one of the country’s highest‑earning runners from the spring program.

Ceolwulf arrived at Randwick off a fraught fortnight. He had run in the G2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) where, after the race, he returned to scale with blood present in both nostrils and finished down the track behind the unbeaten Autumn Glow. That post‑race finding typically triggers an automatic three‑month stand‑down, but the gelding was scoped and cleared to continue his preparation after examinations showed clean lungs and throat.

Trainer J. Pride described the veterinary work in detail. “We were looking for something in his sinuses where he might have had a growth, something that could have bled. It might have been an obstruction. There was nothing,” Pride said. He added that “the horse passed every examination we could have put him through. It was above and beyond what they asked us to do, but he’s a valuable horse.” Pride also outlined his view on the cause: “The most likely explanation seems to be he’s had, and I would call it minor, a head trauma and he’s burst a couple of vessels.”

Those scoping results persuaded Racing NSW stewards to clear Ceolwulf to press on for the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m), but the decision to spell the gelding came after that Randwick appearance. Racing NSW’s announcement removes him from markets already set for the Autumn Carnival, a move that will affect bookmakers’ books and connections’ immediate plans.

Market context had been stark: Autumn Glow was installed a prohibitive $1.30 favourite to make it 10 unbeaten starts, and previews noted Ceolwulf needed a wet track to seriously challenge her. Pride was candid about form and conditions: “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.” He also said of the recovery process, “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… He didn't miss a walk. He missed nothing.”

Ceolwulf is a five‑year‑old gelding who, according to reporting, has already amassed more than A$10 million in prizemoney and carries high‑level form including a Randwick G1 King Charles win in 2024 (photo credit listed as Jeremy Ng). Sources differ on his Group 1 tally; one report calls him a two‑time G1 King Charles winner while another describes him as a four‑time Group 1 winner. Racenet also characterised the recent episode as a “second bleeding scare in as many starts at Randwick,” a detail that has not been reconciled in official notices.

Trainer Pride’s mentor, John Size, was noted in coverage as a voice experienced with protecting horses after EIPH events in Hong Kong, and the sequence of scoping, steward clearance and immediate spelling keeps Ceolwulf out of autumn starts while connections manage risk. The Racing NSW statement and Pride’s comments close this chapter in the short term; the gelding will now be spelled and removed from autumn betting markets while his team assesses next steps.