You might see one or two winners dominate any given race programme, but five “demolition jobs” in one day isn’t common. To see it happen on Epsom day at Randwick, is even less likely. Working backwards from the Epsom, and Joe Pride’s genuine admiration for Ceolwulf was clearly evident as he spoke to Sky Thoroughbred Central’s Greg Radley. “He’s a special horse and he’s got a big engine. He’s really exciting. I’ve been in love with him for a long time.”
Ceolwulf had anything but an ideal run. He settled a little worse than midfield after a sluggish start, and it was soon obvious he was going to be three wide for the duration. He did however have the luxury of following Tom Kitten who was always going to take him a long way. Ceolwulf’s enormous ability was showcased when Chad Schofield switched him to the extreme outside coming up the rise.
Eight lengths off the lead and looking like he might have too much to do, the Tavistock gelding went past horses like Tom Kitten, My Oberon and Arctic Glamour as though they were tied to the fence. He was fairly flying as he pounced on the leader Royal Patronage before strolling away to win the Gr 1 with ridiculous ease. Joe Pride has won Doncasters with Vision And Power and Sacred Choice, and an Epsom with Private Eye, but this win had the astute trainer searching for superlatives. Of all the Epsoms I got to call, Filante’s win in 1996 is the one to stay with me. He had the big mile won at the 800m and literally “towed” jockey Brian York up the rise, before putting four lengths on quality performer All Our Mob to whom he conceded 1.5 kgs. Ceolwulf’s winning margin on Saturday wasn’t as great but he came from much further back in the field than Filante.
Is it any wonder Joe Pride is optimistic about the prospects of Ceolwulf over the Spring Carnival - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
We can only speculate on what might have happened had Autumn Glow not gone amiss before the Flight Stakes. Race tactics and tempo can obviously influence the outcome of a horse race, but surely even the hugely talented Autumn Glow would have had a job to contain the rampaging Lady Shenandoah in the Gr 1. Admittedly the Snitzel filly had a perfect run one out and one back, but she was spectacular from the top of the rise. Lady Shenandoah literally cantered past the leaders at the 200m before racing away to win by 3.17 lengths. In finishing third Snow In May was 3.51 lengths behind the winner while in the recent Tea Rose Stakes she was just over a length behind Autumn Glow over the shorter trip. Food for thought.
Lady Shenandoah was so impressive in winning the Flight Stakes she may have given Autumn Glow a fright. We'll never know - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
And what of SwiftFalcon’s arrogant win in the listed Dulcify Stakes - his third on the trot. Admirably suited by a very busy pace up front, Jay Ford was able to bide his time in front of only two rivals before easing into the clear on top of the rise. SwiftFalcon fairly exploded past the leaders before careering away to win by more than two lengths from Pleasure Artist. It was no doubt pleasing for Team Hawkes to nab a stakes race with a son of Exceedance, a horse they trained to win a Gr 3 San Domenico Stakes and the prestigious Gr 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2019. SwiftFalcon will be among the fancied runners in the Spring Champion Stakes on October 26th, in which jockey Jay Ford will be looking for his third win in the race. The popular jockey was successful in 2005 on Hotel Grand, and again on Monaco Consul in 2009.
SwiftFalcon was another brilliant winner at Randwick on Saturday - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Randwick trainer John Thompson is usually the composed professional not given to animated displays of emotion after an important stakes win. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him quite as excited as he was after Bel Merci’s smashing win in the Gimcrack Stakes on Saturday. “She’s just a natural,” said the trainer. “We gave her a jumpout before the official 2YO trials and she won by a space. She was very good in finishing second in her official trial and came on leaps and bounds after that. I don’t push my two year olds. What you saw today was just pure, natural ability. She’ll be spelled now with the Golden Slipper firmly in mind.”
Thompson won the Gimcrack Stakes in 2011 when training for the ill fated Patinack organisation. The filly in question was Hussousa whose time on the racetrack was cut short by injury after just four starts. She won the Gimcrack with Joao Moreira in the saddle before being turned out. On resuming she was third in the Widden Stakes, second to Pierro in the Silver Slipper and third in the Reisling Trial to Samaready. She was destined to go amiss before the Golden Slipper. Hussousa obviously had her share of talent, but you get the feeling John Thompson rates her well below Bel Merci.
Bel Merci led and gave nothing else a chance in winning the Gimcrack Stakes - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Back to Saturday’s “big hitters”. State Of America’s dominant win to open the programme was in a mere BM 72 Midway over 1800m, a far cry from the black type races contested by the aforementioned. By the same token a horse can do no more than win, and this five year old was responsible for a career best performance - the kind of performance trainer David Payne has been expecting for a long time. To say a horse has been a slow maturer is an oft used phrase. David Payne says this homebred has taken forever and a day. “It was obvious from early days that he could gallop,” said the trainer. “He’s always had that lovely long striding action, but his head was in a mess for a long time. He was nervous and spooky and could get himself into a hell of a state at the races. He would stand in the tie-up stalls with the perspiration just dripping off him. I’m told his mother, a maiden mare called State The Obvious was exactly the same, and I’ve had a couple of others out of the same mare who had similar temperaments. He’s given all of that nonsense away. Today he doesn’t turn a hair and look at the difference.”
Early in his career State Of America would sometimes run his race before going onto the track. That’s the reason it took him five runs to win his maiden at Gosford in January 2023 with Rachel King on board. Pleasingly his winning margin was an impressive 3.5 lengths. His pre-race antics persisted and it took him another eight runs to win again - this time in a Hawkesbury Class 1 with Jean Van Overmeire and again his winning margin was emphatic. State Of America’s third win came up in a BM 72 at Randwick last Melbourne Cup day with Adam Hyeronimus on board. His margin wasn’t as great but he showed plenty of tenacity to defy Carpetbagger who looked to have his measure more than once down the running.
State Of America put it all together to register an effortless win in Saturday's Midway - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The five year old mixed his form a little in his following nine runs but managed to run three city placings and was just behind the placegetters in a handful of Midways. David Payne is hopeful the sweet actioned gelding can continue to put it all together as he did on Saturday.
The colours carried by State Of America were taken to great prominence by the classy mare Montefilia, winner of six races including four Gr 1’s for David Payne. She later changed colours and trainers when purchased by Yu Long Investments at the 2023 Inglis broodmare sale. The colours were chosen originally by Richard Kurland, the South African born partner of Caroline Vincent who part owned Montefilia and also has an interest in State Of America. The now well known combination of pale blue and orange vertical halves, white sleeves and cap represent the old flag of South Africa - a banner flown in the country from 1928 to 1994 when a man called Fred Brownell was commissioned to create a new flag for the first post apartheid election.
The aforementioned stunning winners all started well in the black - State Of America $10.00, Bel Merci $3.50, SwiftFalcon $4.00, Lady Shenandoah $3.10 and Ceolwulf $4.00. They all looked more like $2.60 “pops”. The victorious quintet are set to win many more races between them. Almost certainly the Epsom won’t be Ceolwulf’s last visit to the Gr 1 winner’s stall.
(Banner image - Ceolwulf was all business as he put the Epsom field away on Saturday - courtesy Bradley Photographers.)