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By Ray Hickson

Don’t be too quick to judge Ceolwulf on his latest performance – that’s the message from trainer Joe Pride as he eyes the ‘Royal Double’ at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Joe Pride (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The King Charles III winner from the spring has arrived at the Group 1 $1 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) with four runs under his belt and as a last start winner.

To the eye that scrambling victory in the Neville Sellwood (2000m) at Rosehill doesn’t scream Queen Elizabeth winner but Pride said that race, run in trying conditions with a big weight, was a means to an end.

“People are making too much of that last run,’’ Pride said.

“Look at the runs before it, he sprinted with Group 1 sprinters in the Canterbury Stakes and he’s been beaten a short margin in the Ryder.

“He’s had three runs in a row where he’s broken 33 or was just over 33 for his last 600m in unsuitable races.

“People are making too much of a heavy track run for his lead up. It’s only one run in a prep.”

Pride’s initial plan was to rumble with Via Sistina in his first two or three starts to see how Ceolwulf measured up and he was pleased enough after he finished alongside her in the Apollo Stakes first-up.

Then came a well publicised detour after a small setback that meant he ran in the Canterbury Stakes at 1300m instead of the Verry Elleegant over 1600m and then the George Ryder (1500m).

“I wanted to go a mile against the mare and get a guide against her and then go 2000m against her,’’ he said.

“If I didn’t think we could beat her I would have just had a good crack at the Doncaster. But we never got to race her again so I had to make the call coming to the Queen Elizabeth.

“I don’t think he could have won the Doncaster the way it was run, slowly run with a big weight, it would have been very hard.

“I’m convinced we’re in the right race, we’re just going to need a bit of luck.”

Ceolwulf, $14 with TAB on Friday, drew the outside barrier in the Queen Elizabeth and Pride said while that’s obviously not ideal it’s not the most significant factor.

That factor is how the race is run, as the four-year-old has been seen at his best in genuinely run races.

“How’s he going to win it? I’m banking on the fact he’s going to be in a race that’s got a little bit of pressure in it,’’ Pride said.

“The draw does make it sticky, he’s just going to be well into the second half of the field and I hope we can find a back we can get onto between the 800m and 600m to bring us into the race.

“There’s a fair chance we’ll find that because you’ve got some stayers in there that will be looking to get involved, they’re not going to sit and wait until they straighten up to make a move.

“I think he will run top three for sure and he’s a huge winning chance.”

Pride has two mares taking on the Group 1 $1m TAB Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) with Lekvarte and Sounds Of Heaven and he said while both are generous odds he can see them running well.

Last start Emancipation Stakes winner Lekvarte has won five races over the mile, including three at Randwick.

“She’s going to the Chairman’s sale so hoping she will run well again,’’ he said.

“She’s dynamic over the Randwick mile and she will be finishing on strong.”

Ceolwulf wins the Neville Sellwood at Rosehill

Sounds Of Heaven was run down by Mare Of Mt Bulla in the Epona on Golden Slipper Day and Pride expects this to be her best run of the preparation.

“She’s got a bit of class about her and I think she will run well,’’ he said.

“I liked her trial on Monday and she’s the fittest I’ve ever had her. I think she will beat plenty of these horses home.”

Meanwhile, Private Eye is progressing well for his return after an eye infection ruled him out of the autumn and Pride said he’ll likely have one or two starts in the Queensland winter before being set for another spring.

All the fields, form and replays for Day 2 of The Star Championships at Randwick