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Bloodstock agent Barry Lynch provided an peak behind the curtain about what life as a bloodstock agent is really like in the latest installment of the TDN Conversations podcast. Lynch is a man who wears many hats. A graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start, he has worked for over 10 years as a bloodstock agent where he can count a hatful of Group winners as well as the dams of Group winners – Venetian Sun, Garden Of Eden and Lusail – as his major achievements. He is also on the board at the Irish National Stud and is a pretty substantial breeder in his own right. However, Lynch is perrhaps best known for injecting a huge amount of colour onto the sales circuit and does not allow the pressures of getting business done weigh him down. In his own words, he works hard but he is also well able to play hard. From getting started as a bloodstock agent to attracting new clients and enduring fallow periods, Lynch proves a fascinating interviewee. Listen to Conversations with Barry Lynch: https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Barry-Lynch_Conversations_v1.mp3 The post TDN Conversations Podcast: Barry Lynch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Peter Brant's investment in Gun Runner has paid dividends, and the momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Eclipse Award winner Sierra Leone, who Brant campaigned alongside the Coolmore group, headlines Brant's success with the sire. The champion retired to Ashford Stud this year as Gun Runner's all-time leading earner. A similarly composed partnership that includes Brant owns undefeated Paladin (Gun Runner), the recent winner of the GII Risen Star Stakes, as well as a Gun Runner colt out of GSW Thoughtfully (Tapit) who was purchased for $3.3 million at last year's Keeneland September Sale. Zedan Racing Stables's Grade I winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile third-place finisher Brant, named in honor of the owner of White Birch Farm, is yet another son of Gun Runner. It should come as no surprise, then, that Brant has entrusted one of his top racemares to the Three Chimneys Farm star sire. Three-time Grade I winner Gina Romantica (Into Mischief) recently produced her first foal at Dell Ridge Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. “The choice to breed Gina Romantica to Gun Runner was made as I thought and think he is a good cross for her physically,” said Brant. “In addition, she has good dirt horses in her family's pedigree and she was fairly good on the dirt. I am a big fan of Gun Runner and have supported him with several of our best mares, and now of course we have his son Sierra Leone to look forward to as well.” Since arriving on Feb. 7, Gina Romantica's Gun Runner colt has received such high marks that the 7-year-old mare is already booked to return to the same sire this season. “He's doing great,” Dell Ridge's farm manager Des Ryan reported of the new arrival. “It was a pretty straightforward foaling. He got up and nursed pretty quickly and did well from the get-go. The mare was a great mom from the start.” Gina Romantica, a daughter of Machmer Hall's multiple Grade I producer Special Me (Unbridled's Song), was a $1.025 million Keeneland September yearling. A debut winner on the dirt, the Chad Brown trainee made three more trips to the winner's circle as a 3-year-old including a score in the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes. Over the next two years, the Keeneland turf lover claimed back-to-back victories in the GI First Lady Stakes. She placed in three additional Grade I contests, including a runner-up effort behind Sacred Wish (Not This Time) in her final career start in the 2024 GI Matriarch Stakes. Gina Romantica and her new foal at Dell Ridge Farm | Sara Gordon The Gun Runner/Into Mischief cross is already off to a fast start, represented by stakes winner Search Party, who runs in this weekend's GIII Honeybee Stakes, and recent Las Virgenes Stakes victress Meaning. While the new colt shares his dam's bay coat, Ryan pointed out that the similarities extend beyond there. “He's got Gina's personality and class,” he shared. “He's very nice to be around, just a good colt. I'd say there's a bit of mom and dad in him.” Ryan had the chance to get to know Gina Romantica even before she retired to Brant's broodmare band when she would spend layoffs at Dell Ridge during her racing career. “She's always been a very classy filly when she was on the racetrack and to be around on the farm here,” he said. “She's just straightforward and easygoing. We're honored to have all these nice mares of Mr. Brant's here, like we are with all of our clients. It's nice to have mares who have been superstars on the racetrack and get them back here for their broodmare career.” The post Gina Romantica Welcomes First Foal by Gun Runner at Dell Ridge appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Charlotte Clement de Bona has been appointed The Jockey Club's chief strategy and transformation officer, the organization announced Thursday. In her new role, Clement de Bona will oversee enterprise strategy, digital and operational growth, and cross-functional initiatives. “The sport is evolving, and so must we,” said The Jockey Club chair Everett Dobson. “Charlotte's role is an important step as the industry continues to seek growth and modernization opportunities. Charlotte's track record of delivering meaningful transformations, particularly in dynamic and complex environments, in addition to her unparalleled knowledge of racing, makes her uniquely suited to help guide The Jockey Club through this next chapter. We are delighted to welcome her to the team.” The daughter of late trainer Christophe Clement, Clement de Bona majored in Economics at Vanderbilt and is a Harvard Business School graduate. She began her career at McKinsey & Company, where she advised senior leadership teams on strategy and operational performance. She has since held senior roles across high-growth start-ups and private equity backed portfolio companies. She serves on the board of the Belmont Childcare Association; is a visiting professor in Skidmore College's Management and Business department, teaching on the Business of Horse Racing; and she is a co-chair of the Uveal Melanoma Taskforce and advisor to the Melanoma Research Alliance. “I am incredibly excited to be joining The Jockey Club at such an important time for our sport,” she said. “Horse racing has a rich heritage and tremendous potential for innovation and growth. I am deeply passionate about its future and look forward to working alongside Jim Gagliano and the team to help shape and execute on a bold, sustainable, and forward-looking strategy. What excites me most about joining The Jockey Club is their commitment to the sport, the well-being of those who make up the sport, and ultimately the shared ambition for what it can continue to become.” The post Clement de Bona Named The Jockey Club’s Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Arizona Blaze, a winner of the G1 Flying Five Stakes, has his first mares scanned in foal. The Irish National Stud resident stands for €12,500 this year. Elegant Madame (Inns Of Court), a half-sister to G1 Middle Park Stakes-placed Summer Sands (Coach House), is carrying to the son of Sergei Prokofiev. She is from the family of G2 Coventry Stakes hero Hellvelyn. Another in foal mare is Hi Milady (Sir Prancealot), a half-sister to G3 Anglesey Stakes second Hard Yards (Moss Vale), while Alumni Lia (Australia), from the family of champion Persuasive (Dark Angel) and Group 1-winning sprinter Creative Force (Dubawi), is also in foal to the G3 Prix Sigy hero. Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale said, “Arizona Blaze has adapted seamlessly to his new role. We are impressed with the quality of mares within his first book which points to how well he has been received by breeders in Ireland, The UK and France. Among them are proven stakes producers Hard Walnut, Elpida, Gadfly and Margaret's Mission.” The post First Mares Scanned In Foal To Arizona Blaze appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Hanshin Racecourse: Saturday, February 28, 2026 3rd-HSN, ¥11,280,000 ($72k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m BLUE MCKINZIE (c, 3, McKinzie–Blueeyesintherein, by Magna Graduate), a $40,000 Keeneland November weanling, took some nibbles at the windows and was a respectable fourth on Tokyo debut Nov. 29 and most recently rounded out a US-bred exacta behind Nemes (Cairo Prince) over this course and distance Dec. 21. Blueeyesintherein, winner of the GIII Debutante Stakes at two in 2012, was acquired by Marequest for $27,000 with this colt in utero at the 2022 Keeneland November Sale. Co-breeder Kim Valerio selected dam sire MGSW & MGI/G1SP Magna Graduate on behalf of her client Elisabeth Alexander. O-Ryo Kotoura; B-Kim Valerio & Jon Green (KY); T-Yoshiaki Sugiyama The post McKinzie Colt Looks To Go One Better at Hanshin appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

The first mares have been reported in foal to Claiborne's first-season stallions Mindframe (Constitution–Walk of Stars, by Street Sense) and Johannes (Nyquist–Cuyathy, by Congrats). Multiple Grade I Mindframe's first mare in foal is Put Together (Smart Strike), a half-sister to Grade III winner Feathered (Indian Charlie), the dam of Horse of the Year Flightline. Boarded at Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa in Paris, Put Together is owned by Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stables, which also co-campaigned Mindframe during his on-track career. Mindframe stands his debut season at stud for an advertised fee of $50,000. Toni Marie (Blame) became the first mare checked in foal for Grade I winner Johannes. This is the first mating for Toni Marie, who resides at Chesapeake Farm in Lexington for owner Raymond Fischer. Johannes stands for an advertised fee of $10,000. View the full article

you don't agree huh. try lacing my boots

Tattersalls has released the catalogue for the Craven Breeze-Up Sale, which features 182 juveniles and takes place between April 13 and 15. High-profile graduates from the Craven Breeze-Up Sale include multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Vandeek, 1,000 Guineas heroine Cachet, Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint winner Believing and more. Commenting on this year's catalogue, Tattersalls Managing Director Matthew Prior said, “Al Quoz Sprint winner Believing was the sale's fifth individual Group 1 winner since 2022 and crowned another excellent year on the racecourse for the Craven Breeze-Up Sale, Europe's leading breeze-up sale for Group 1 winners. “The future looks equally assured, with UAE 2,000 Guineas winner Six Speed heading a strong group of promising Classic contenders aiming to follow in the footsteps of Native Trail and Cachet, alongside Epsom Derby runner-up Ambiente Friendly and last year's Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas third Hotazhell.” He added, “The consistency of the sale's success at the highest level is a clear testament to the continued support of Europe's leading breeze-up consignors. That support has once again resulted in a catalogue rich in both quality and diversity, making the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale, staged alongside racing at the Rowley Mile at the start of the Flat season at the Home of Racing, a compelling prospect for both domestic and overseas buyers.” The breeze for the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale will take place at Newmarket's Rowley Mile Racecourse on Monday 13th April starting at 9.30am, with the sale taking place on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th April after the conclusion of racing on the first two days of Newmarket's three-day Craven Meeting. Willie Browne's Mocklershill, leading consignor at this sale in 2025, will have the largest draft this year with 10 juveniles catalogued. Knockanglass Stables, Tally-Ho Stud and Cormac Farrell will each offer nine lots. No fewer than 39 of the sires represented in the catalogue have already produced Classic or Group 1 winners including Acclamation, Blue Point, Frankel, Ghaiyyath, Invincible Spirit, Justify, Lope De Vega, Megmas, Night Of Thunder, Sands Of Mali, Starman, Sea The Stars and Wootton Bassett. Meanwhile, no sire will be better-represented at the sale than Havana Grey, who is responsible for 19 of the 182 entries. Buyers looking to benefit from additional incentives will be well catered for with four lots entered in the £25,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus Scheme, nine two-year-olds eligible for French Owners' Premiums, 13 lots entered in the Swedish Derby and Oaks Series and nine two-year-old fillies registered for the Great British Bonus Scheme. There are also several lots entered in lucrative Tattersalls sales races including the £200,000 Tattersalls Somerville Auction Stakes, the £200,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes and the €250,000 Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes. The catalogue can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com and will be available from Tattersalls and Tattersalls representatives from Friday March 6. The post Release Of Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale ‘Rich In Both Quality And Diversity’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Eye on the World, with BH correspondent and world traveler Bob Kieckhefer, aims to look at international racing from an American perspective and, along the way, perhaps grow some interest in racing overseas.View the full article

you're a good trainer of trotters. so keep at it. Victoria is really taking off with trotters . In fact 8 of the 9 races at Melton on Saturday night are trots. something they have a lot of in Victoria to cater for all classes of trotters. The Group 1 is a Keayang Zahara benefit race though lol 🤣 A few good kiwi trotters trainers made the change to Victoria so well worth considering if you wanted to really enjoy your craft, and win some TROTS. Young Tristan Larsen still driving for ex-pat Brent Lilley , who has several group 1 wins training , and also ran 2nd in the TAB trot last year Cambridge with his star horse. they surprisingly only have 2 in on Sat. and another kiwi Kiwi Trotter trainer Richard Brosnan has done well. None in this Saturday though. Richard and Son Emmett winning the Interdominion trot Final 3-4 years ago with Maori Law and win trot races all the time in Vic. Another disgruntled kiwi trainer Kyle Marshall from Cambridge arrived a couple of years ago and does well. He has the favourite in race 2 . Alas the prizemoney in Victoria is very low these days , as not a lot of betting on them these days. Kyle's horse picks up just 3-4 thousand per win from it's 4 wins so you have to get used to that with the state of the economy. so has about $20,000 earned . but it's just a sport , and a wins a win . Auckland has several great trotter trainers like BarryP , the Dickies, Balle , Hacketts ,McGowans, Herlihy, Mark with OscarB, Chilcott , Dr Chin should retire (but whatever) and several more even . What they should do is Double the prizemoney , Double the trot races number . and that would double the number of trotters competing . and get them off correct rating races too . Dunn's even sent some there for a while like 'Bounce and Beyond' and 'BraveheartHighlander' so they would support the trotting too no doubt. send all the Pacers to the South Island and have the North exclusively trotters and greater than Sweden . 😅 🏆 And MAKE AUCKLAND the Trotting Mecca OF the World for trotters . Bigger and better than Sweden even. Run the richest trots in the world . NZ has had world class trotters (and trotter trainers) for decades. they should still try and prosper from such. The upcoming 'TAB trot' has made the Aussies look good so far , so has lifted the Aussie game. Look what GUS did in NZ. and QLD is Not even a Trotting state lol. So things are Possible if you aim Big.

Luke Ferraris reunites with David Eustace-trained Dazzling Fit (NZ) (Ribchester) in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (1 March) and believes the galloper can be competitive despite being one of the lowest-rated entries in the field. A third-place finish in a Class 3 1800m contest under Zac Purton this month, raising Dazzling Fit’s rating to 76, was enough to secure a place in Sunday’s field. That day, he finished half a length behind the winner, to whom he gave 11 pounds, BMW Hong Kong Derby prospect Flow Water Flow. “He’s a nice horse and his lead-up has been pretty good,” Ferraris said. “He’s just going to need a race run to suit. He’s obviously still maturing and not the final product yet, but he’s given every sort of sign that he’s going to be a nice horse.” The South African jockey, who partnered Akashvani to eighth place in the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m), will vacate the saddle of David Hayes’ charge to reunite with Dazzling Fit. Despite enduring a mixed 2025/26 campaign so far, one highlight for Dazzling Fit was a short-head 1600m victory over Tony Cruz’s Beauty Bolt in November last year. The James McDonald-ridden Beauty Bolt went on to claim third place in the Hong Kong Classic Mile and is likely to be one of the market leaders on Sunday. Ferraris enjoyed a productive three-year-old campaign with Dazzling Fit last season, piloting him to two wins, a second and a third from five runs. He hasn’t ridden the gelding since October last year, but is happy to be partnering the New Zealand-bred again as he seeks a Hong Kong Classic Cup win to go alongside the Hong Kong Classic Mile title he claimed last season with My Wish. “He’s pretty easy to ride,” Ferraris said of Dazzling Fit. “He can get fired up a little bit, but he’s got a great action, and a relatively good temperament. So he’s not hard to work with.” While Dazzling Fit’s best form has come at 1400m and 1600m, Ferraris said he believes the son of Ribchester can handle the step up in distance on Sunday. “I think he’ll appreciate the 1800 (metres). If there can be a little bit of pace on just to help him get into a rhythm and settle, he’s got a big action on him and you want to see him use it. If he can get those things to suit, then, hopefully, he’s in with a shout,” he added. The Four-Year-Old Classic Series culminates in the 149th running of the blue riband HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) at Sha Tin on 22 March. Sunday’s (1 March) 11-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.30pm with the Class 4 Citi Wealth Handicap (1800m). The HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) jumps at 4.45pm, while the meeting also features the HK$13 million G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m), which will be run at 3.35pm. View the full article

Lol, how did they go? Bet they were nil on the horses and were allowed to feed as much as they wanted into the dogs with same race multi this, same race multi that ? What did they start with and finish with? If any single person wagered the way these OTG blokes do, theY would be betting irresponsibly and were compulsive gambler’s! And yet certain punters they make it hard and are treated poorly whereas the OTG are given major preferential treatment!

Jason, dont agree that harness racing is an awful industry? Yes it has certainly fallen from grace compared to the hay days when courses were full and it was semi affordable for many! There certainly has been some shocking business decisions made over the past decade or so and I believe that HRNZ stopped promoting the harness racing industry. Things are competitive in everything nowadays but personally believe that things are going to become very dire for harness racing industry 2 years or so due to very poor financial handling of things. The frustrating thing is that those making the decisions at the moment are not looking at the overall picture of what they are doing to the harness racing future. They have lost the plot and when things are shown up for what they actually are there will be heads to roll!

How good was the show tonight. Hope you invested plenty @Brodie

David Hayes is adamant Ka Ying Rising will have Tentyris covered as talk of a clash later this year between Hong Kong’s superstar and Australia’s new sprint sensation in The Everest (1,200m) intensifies. Fresh from his record-breaking 18th straight win in last Sunday’s Group One Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1,400m), Ka Ying Rising will have two more local starts before Hayes turns his attention to defending his crown in the A$20 million (US$14.3 million) The Everest at Randwick in...View the full article

Whoever decided it was fair to give my battling 1 win trotter 40m, off the same mark as a 9 win horse. He got lapped both days and will now be another statistic because the owners got rheemed this week. I wont say anymore as i waa fined previously for sticking up for myself and no one is allowed an opinion. 1 day soon when i finally stop the torture to myself and leave this awful industry i will deliver a state of the game few have ever seen

are you talking about the people, the horses or the trainers ? lol. or just burn down the building . There's seems to be no one in New Zealand that can do anything right . lol . Com'on Brodster . How could that archaic system ever work ? it never really did. I could give you bucketloads of examples of horses 'Reaching their Mark ' within a couple of starts and just being sold off to Aus. even from when I was in NZ. Lets look at Rangiora for example . Most of the races have been handicapped beautifully by the Handicapper and the races have contestants that are close on Ratings points . 35-40 , 41-50 etc. Jason wants to sack and burn HRNZ though , just a BOAY forum normal thing these days it seems ? 🤣😅😋😂 EXAMPLE The trot has Sods Law (15 wins ) off the front as a 38 rated horse. Rachmaninov (also 15 wins ) is off 30m as a 53 rated horse. Brilliant !! the great rating system ALLOWS the OUT of FORM horses to drop back in grade when they're out of form . AND there ARE PLENTY of Out of Form Horses around All the time. So you'd have those 2 old time trotters unable to race because of a tight DINOSAUR life time win handicap??? ,and they would be FFAer's and taking on Muscle Mountain at every start. That's just a joke mate. LIfetime wins????? . not really an option EXAMPLE 2 . we just had our SLOW Horse race day at Redcliffe today. As we do every Thursday to GIVE ALL horses in training a hope of a race win . 2 of the Maiden class rated races . Thats 30 - 40 rated (the lowest rating you can get) were won by a lifetime 9 win horse and John Mc's own horse Crime Time (currently rated 31 after a long run out of outs ) won race 5 . his 25th lifetime wins from 300 starts. The old bugger is closing in on $200,000 earned. and won today in 1.59.5. the absolute fastest he can go. the 2 winners in next class up today (41-47 rating ) have 19 career wins each. How good is the Ratings ?? fantastic. The STUPID Lifetime wins idea would have him having to take on Leap To Fame . instead of Beginners grade and just above, and winning today lol.🤣 LONG LIVE the Genius who made the Current Rating system. More brilliant Ingenuity for harness racing.

Why stop at the handicapping department? Unfortunately when the industry needs people with a background with business success, we sadly haven’t got it! I believe that what should’ve been an opportunity to keep the harness industry going has been badly managed! the reality is that those that still think that Entain is the White Knight for racing in NZ are going to be sadly disappointed, but then again the opportunity for anyone to dispute this are most welcome to respond here?

Remove and flush the entire handicapping department and start again. Hire sensibly.

That will be interesting to see.

Great

Needs to go back to number if wins current system just not fair when 15 win horses race maiden winners

One.

Unbeaten two-year-old colt Warwoven (Sword of State) will be back at the races for the first time since the beginning of January when he lines up in the Gr.2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday for trainer Bjorn Baker. An impressive winner of his first two starts, Warwoven was hot favourite for the Magic Millions 2YO (1200m) but was deemed unfit to start on raceday morning. “Any athlete going to any sports competition, there is always a fine line between being 100 percent healthy but doing the work to get there,” Baker said. “We were very comfortable with him running but the Racing Queensland vets and stewards weren’t and that is that grey area, that is that fine line. “I’m happy to report that he couldn’t be moving any better at the moment and we’re thrilled with how he has done. It is character building this game. You have got to take the good with the bad and those are the rules. We look forward, not back.” The son of promising Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State remains $6 favourite for the Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) on March 21 despite his absence from the track and he resumes on Saturday without a trial. “He’s been kept up to the mark, he didn’t lose a lot of residual fitness,’’ Baker said. “He was ready to go only about five or six weeks ago. He’s had a few good gallops and I’m happy with him.” With rain forecast on Saturday at Randwick, Baker said he is hopeful Warwoven will get through any rain-affected conditions from barrier one. “On his pedigree, he is a good chance to get through the track being out of a good Makfi mare,” Baker said. “On the Tuesday before the Magic Millions, he actually galloped really well on a track with a fair bit of give. “I suppose barrier one is the quickest way home, but whether that’s a positive or a negative, you don’t really know until raceday. “There is a bit of pressure and a few nerves, but after his gallop on Tuesday and last week, I couldn’t be happier with him. “He’s a good sized laidback horse with a great attitude, and he has that natural speed, so he can probably put himself right there. “If he does have to get out and they are fanning across, he will be able to do that too. I think with his speed ability, he should be able to create space and that will be key, on what could be a demanding track.” Warwoven is likely to head straight to the Golden Slipper pending a good run on Saturday, with stablemate Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) having to win next week’s Gr.2 Todman Stakes (1200m) at Randwick to force his way in. An impressive trial winner earlier in the week, Paradoxium is 75th in the order of entry for the Slipper. “Warwoven is in the Slipper already, whereas Paradoxium won a Magic Millions race at Wyong and the prizemoney doesn’t count towards the Golden Slipper,” Baker said. “He is going to have to win next week more than likely to make the Golden Slipper. “They’re both very exciting and in terms of which one is better, I guess time will tell. “My gut feeling is that Paradoxium will be better over the shorter trips and Warwoven possibly over a touch longer. The question is where is that line. Is it at 1200m, is it under or is it beyond. I’d love to see them in a Slipper against each other at 1200m.” View the full article

Joe Pride concedes Ceolwulf probably can’t beat Autumn Glow this weekend – unless Randwick is hit with a deluge of rain. Sydney’s weather will determine if Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock) has any chance of toppling glamour mare Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) in the Verry Elleegant Stakes at Randwick, according to his trainer Joseph Pride. Autumn Glow is a prohibitive $1.30 favourite to extend her unbeaten sequence to 10 on Saturday, and Pride concedes it’s a deserved quote. His one caveat is if the upper end of the wide-ranging prediction of rain falls, declaring Ceolwulf some hope to upset the apple cart if the track becomes significantly wet. “I’m not even thinking about winning chances because honestly, if that mare shows up with what she did the other day, you’re probably not going to beat her at this stage of the preparation for us, with no blinkers and so early on,” Pride said. “His best chance of running really well would be if the track is wet, so I’ve got my eye on that. “That’s probably what punters want to hear from me, ‘is there a chance your horse could win? Well yes, but it would have to be wet, I would think’.” There is some relief for Pride in the simple fact Ceolwulf is lining up at Randwick. He missed the Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) last year due to a setback, and two weeks ago his autumn looked over when he returned to scale with blood in his nostrils following the Apollo Stakes (1400m), a condition that usually incurs an automatic three-month ban. However, a subsequent scope showed no traces of blood in Ceolwulf’s lungs or throat, and it was surmised the horse didn’t suffer an internal bleed but rather something akin to a burst blood vessel in his nose. Stewards gave him the green light to continue his preparation, and Pride said the horse hadn’t missed a beat. “As soon as I scoped him, I felt like he was entitled to be here, but going back to two weeks ago when I saw him post-race, it is a massive relief,” Pride said. “He didn’t miss a walk. He missed nothing.” Ceolwulf has won three races over the Randwick mile, all at Group 1 level, but given he improves deeper into his campaign, Pride will be happy if he finishes in the first few on Saturday. “Hopefully the first four or five and I’ll be happy. That will be box ticked going forward and I’ll know that he is on track. But I’m very happy with him.” View the full article