Trainer Joe Pride keen to back-up Ceolwulf in Saturday’s Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes

Ceolwulf, a narrow third in last Saturday’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes, is poised to line up again at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday before his main target for The Championships.

Ceowulf (middle) finished a close third behind Gringotts (left) and Fangirl (right) in the George Ryder Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Trainer Joe Pride is prepared to back-up Ceolwulf this Saturday at Rosehill Gardens in a bid to have his stable weapon at his best for next month’s likely Group 1 $5m Queen Elizabeth Stakes showdown with Via Sistina.

Ceolwulf finished a narrow third in a thrilling three-way go last Saturday in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and has been nominated to run in this week’s Group 2 $300,000 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m).

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There is the option of waiting until the following week for the Group 1 $4m Doncaster Mile (1600m) however Pride believes running on day one in the famed mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) would be too difficult.

“We are accepting for Saturday and Plan A is to run this week,” he said.

“I’ve told the guys, it’s too hard to go for both races.

“I have not ruled out the Doncaster completely but if the Queen Elizabeth is the better race for him, you have to give him the best prep for that race and at this stage we are concentrating on that.”

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Pride is eager to work out if Ceolwulf is as good at 2000m as he has shown at the mile during his marvellous spring campaign.

The smart son of Tavistock claimed the Group 1 Epsom Handicap and Group 1 King Charles III Stakes over the Randwick mile last year.

Gringotts gets his first G1 win in an epic edition of the George Ryder Stakes! 🙌@cmaherracing | @TommyBerry21 | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/RxCWoAgtb4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 22, 2025

Ceolwulf is yet to win in three starts this preparation but Pride is confident his star four-year-old is racing well and was rapt with his performance in the George Ryder Stakes.

“I thought he went super,” Pride said.

“I don’t think he’s had a lot of luck this preparation. His last two runs he’s got caught back on the inside (which doesn’t suit him) in races that ended up being a dash home both times.”

Regular jockey Chad Schofield is booked to ride Ceolwulf in the Neville Sellwood Stakes where the gelding has shortened from $1.90 to $1.60 favouritism in early betting.

Originally published as Trainer Joe Pride keen to back-up Ceolwulf in Saturday’s Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes