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By Ray Hickson

Everything about Ceolwulf’s progression into his four-year-old year and his form this spring tells trainer Joe Pride he’s the right horse to win Saturday’s Group 1 $1.5m TAB Epsom (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

Joe Pride (Pic: Steve Hart)

The Australian Derby runner-up has taken all the steps Pride hoped he might since being gelded and with a slashing lead-up over 2000m two weeks ago said he’s had the perfect platform to put a stamp on his class.

“It’s always been a good race for four-year-olds and he’s got that profile of an emerging horse that hasn’t hit his mark yet,’’ Pride said.

“It looks ideal, throw into the equation a big field and needing some luck but he looks well placed.

“You look down the field and it’s very open, I don’t look at a lot of horses and go ‘that’s a threat’ or ‘that’s a threat’.

“I think he will be in the finish, he’s becoming a very genuine horse who has a hell of a lot of ability so I can’t see him not figuring in the finish.”

As Pride mentioned, four-year-olds have a strong record in the Epsom.

A staggering 21 of the last 31 editions of the Randwick mile have been won by four-year-olds including the Pride-trained Private Eye in 2021 and last year’s winner Rediener.

He said Ceolwulf’s last start second behind Eliyass in the Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) was as good a lead in run as he could have hoped without winning – he ran easily the fastest last 600m of 33.28 (Punter’s Intelligence) including a dazzling burst of 10.77 from the 400m-200m.

“They ran some time and he’s a winner that other horse, no doubt about him,’’ Pride said.

“He’s a year older and tougher, more seasoned, in 12 months time my horse will be doing that to other horses I’m sure.

“It doesn’t all come together when they’re young but he’s on the way. He’s stronger and smarter every start he has so I hope it unfolds for him and there’s a decent tempo on.”

Ceolwulf, $6 with TAB on Wednesday, will be ridden by Chad Schofield for the first time in the Epsom and Pride said drawing slightly out from the middle isn’t a negative.

Of the last 21 Epsom winners, including the dead head of 2022, 12 have jumped from a double figure barrier.

“I convinced myself that there probably wasn’t too many bad gates,’’ he said.

“You see them sit wide over that mile there all the time, it doesn’t seem to matter. It’s got to be one of the fairest tracks and distances at least in Sydney racing.”

Schofield gained a bit of inside knowledge of Ceolwulf’s turn of foot when he rode against him on Golden Path in the Kingston Town so will be something of a fan when he’s legged on board.

He said looking at the gelding’s profile tells him that he’s still untapped and that’s something that gives him confidence he can get the job done.

“I think he’s really well weighted and I love the prep he’s had leading into this race,’’ Schofield said.

Ceolwulf runs second at Randwick on September 21

“He followed me, I rode Golden Path, and he came off my back and sprinted quickly. I saw his sprint first hand and he’s a great winning chance.

“I’m very happy with the draw, he likes to find his feet and from that draw it gives us options.

"The favourite’s drawn wide (Royal Patronage) and will potentially have to do a bit of work whereas hopefully we can get a nice run with cover.”

All the fields, form and replays for TAB Epsom Day at Randwick on Saturday