Ceolwulf, Via Sistina, Fangirl and Switzerland among star horses at Warwick Farm barrier trials

Some of Sydney’s best racehorses made an appearance at Thursday morning’s Warwick Farm trials. Find out how they went.

Ceolwulf was in cruise control, Via Sistina and Fangirl were never pressured, Lady Shenandoah and Switzerland impressed, and Private Life and Broadsiding had easy trials.

This is a snapshot of an all-star barrier trial session at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning that featured some of Sydney’s best racehorses.

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The opening heat over 1000m on the course proper was won brilliantly by Joe Pride’s Ceolwulf, winner of the Epsom Handicap and King Charles III Stakes last spring.

Ceolwulf, ridden by regular jockey Chad Schofield, led early in the trial almost by default and was never headed, cruising home to win by 1¾ lengths from Chris Waller’s outstanding mares, Via Sistina and Fangirl, recording 1min 01.45sec for the 1000m heat (last 600m in 35.28sec).

The trio are all on target to begin their autumn carnival campaigns in the Group 2 $300,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 15.

The stars are out at Warwick Farm this morning⭐️

1️⃣ CEOLWULF
2️⃣ VIA SISTINA
3️⃣ FANGIRL

🎥: @SkyRacingAUpic.twitter.com/jlMiOmo4zP

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) January 29, 2025

Waller’s brilliant three-year-olds Lady Shenandoah and Switzerland ran one-two in their 900m heat with the filly scoring by 1½ lengths clear and stopping the clock at 55.22sec for 900m (last 600m in 35.22sec).

Lady Shenandoah, winner of the Group 1 Flight Stakes last spring, settled outside Ostraka, before seizing control of the trial and winning comfortably with Switzerland, the Coolmore Stud Stakes hero, closing off nicely.

Waller is likely to run Lady Shenandoah first-up in the Group 2 $300,000 Light Fingers Stakes at Royal Randwick at the Apollo Stakes meeting while Switzerland is expected to be first-up on the Flemington straight course in the Group 1 $1m Lightning Stakes (1000m) the same day.

Slow on the clock - impressive on the eye.

Lady Shenandoah (3f Snitzel x Star Pupil) having her 2nd trial into the autumn. Last start G1 winner.

2nd - G1 winner Switzerland (3c Snitzel x Ms Bad Behavior). Royal Ascot bound?@cwallerracing@[e-mail]/zZv9IkcX8f

— Breednet (@BreednetNews) January 30, 2025

Godolphin duo Broadsiding and Tom Kitten settled back in their heat and were kept under tight holds to finish just over five lengths behind Bacchanalia in their 900m heat, run in a fast 53.07sec (last 600m in 34.54sec).

Bacchanalia won by the trial by 2¼ lengths from Linebacker with another two lengths to Mazu.

Private Life, winner of the Caulfield Guineas last spring, was given an easy trial to finish fourth while Golden Rose winner Broadsiding was never out of second gear finishing seventh.

Broadsiding is likely to trial again before he resumes in the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400) at Rosehill Gardens on February 22 where he is expected to clash again with Linebacker and Private Life.

Originally published as Ceolwulf, Via Sistina, Fangirl and Switzerland among star horses at Warwick Farm barrier trials