Multiple Group One winner Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) will be a notable absentee from the Warwick Farm barrier trials after suffering a minor setback.
Trainer Joe Pride reported the horse was being treated for a graze to his leg after seemingly becoming cast in his box, ruling him out of his scheduled 900m heat on Thursday.
It was to have been his first appearance of the year and while not ideal, Pride said it should have minimal effect on Ceolwulf’s build-up as he prepared to return in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 14.
“He must have gotten cast. He just has a graze, but I’ll scratch him from the trial tomorrow,” Pride said.
“He’ll be fine. As long as I can get it right pretty quickly, we’ll get to our first-up run.”
Ceolwulf closed out a consistent spring with back-to-back wins in the Gr.1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and the Gr.1 Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington.
He is being prepared for the major middle-distance weight-for-age races this autumn and Pride admits he’s disappointed the horse won’t get a rematch with Via Sistina following news of her retirement on Sunday.
“It’s sad he doesn’t get a chance to compete against her again because he should have beaten her first-up last time (in the Winx Stakes) when Chad (Schofield), by his own admission, put in a bad ride,” Pride said.
“There looks like a bit of a changing of the guard in the weight-for-age races, so I’m hoping there is a little lull there and a moment for him to really shine.”
Cambridge Stud will offer a half-brother to Ceolwulf by boom young stallion Sword Of State as Lot 513 of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales which commence on Sunday.