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“He Seemed Fine”: How Joe Pride Saved Ceolwulf From A Career-Wrecking Ban CEOLWULF, CHAD SCHOFIELD / G1 King Charles III Stakes // Randwick /// 2024 //// Photo by Jeremy Ng One of Australia’s best horses, Ceolwulf, will return to the races in the G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes a fortnight after he dodged a ban which could have spelled disaster for the rest of his career. At five, there could still be plenty of seasons for the two-time G1 King Charles Stakes winner – who has already amassed more than A$10 million in prizemoney – to race for big money.https://bitofayarn.com But at his last start, the Joe Pride-trained gelding returned to scale with blood present in both nostrils after finishing down the track behind the unbeaten Autumn Glow in the G2 Apollo Stakes. Such a scenario usually triggers a three-month ban from racing in Australia, and a second bleeding attack deems the horse must be retired. Connections didn’t want to have one strike, let alone the thought of being on the cusp of a second.https://bitofayarn.com But as Pride examined Ceolwulf after the race and observed the blood in both nostrils, he was perplexed. Ceolwulf wasn’t distressed, breathing abnormally, or even a little awkward on his feet. He seemed just … fine. What happened next was Pride’s quick thinking saving his horse’s campaign and has put the spotlight on how thoroughbreds are examined when external clues might not lead to the standard conclusion internally. JOE PRIDE / Randwick // 2023 /// Photo by Jeremy Ng Before driving the horse across Sydney back to his stables, Pride asked Racing NSW stewards if he could have the horse scoped on track. The regulator’s chief veterinary officer, Dr Carly Garling, watched the process unfold. “Every horse is an individual and I’d like to think I know my horses well,” Pride said. Pride suspected Ceolwulf hadn’t suffered exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH), which is when blood enters the airways of a horse’s lungs. EIPH usually occurs after a strenuous gallop such as a race, and is manifested with blood from both nostrils. After inspecting Ceolwulf’s airways and lungs, vets couldn’t find any presence of blood. Stewards agreed there could be a possibility of further follow-up tests during the week to ensure Ceolwulf would be cleared to continue racing. On the other side of the world, chief steward Tom Moxon was attending the Asian Racing Conference in Saudi Arabia. He was being kept abreast of the unfolding situation with one of the best horses in the country, including the post-race request for it to be scoped.https://bitofayarn.com “It’s not something we would routinely do on tracks in NSW, but (Pride) was able to arrange for a vet to scope the horse on course,” Moxon said. “It was clear on the scope that the blood on the nostrils wasn’t a result of EIPH, meaning that it was clear it hadn’t come from the lungs and there was no blood in the trachea. I suppose we just wanted to make as informed a decision as we could with the horse’s welfare at the forefront of our minds.” What followed next was a nervous few days as Pride and Ceolwulf’s owners tried to jump every hurdle to make sure the horse was healthy and right to continue his preparation. On Pride’s instigation, Ceolwulf went for a CT scan at Randwick Equine Centre in the days after the Apollo Stakes. Ceolwulf was sedated under the supervision of an equine specialist. The examination assessed everything: the horse’s skull, soft tissue, airways, the list goes on. “We were looking for something in his sinuses where he might have had a growth, something that could have bled,” Pride said. “It might have been an obstruction. There was nothing. https://bitofayarn.com “The horse passed every examination we could have put him through. It was above and beyond what they asked us to do, but he’s a valuable horse.” Pride’s mentor John Size trains in the more extreme climate of Hong Kong, and is known for protecting horses once they suffer an EIPH bleed.  Pride is similarly cautious with his gallopers, but his intuition told him nothing was wrong with Ceolwulf despite the presence of blood after the race. So, what happened? “The most likely explanation seems to be he’s had, and I would call it minor, a head trauma and he’s burst a couple of vessels,” Pride said. “What I have seen happen with horses is they might whack their head on a walker or in the pool, but nothing happens until you gallop them and the extra pressure they’re exerting through that area bursts those blood vessels. “The blood is coming from a very innocent place. “These are horses that are having ridiculously large amounts of money bet on them. The technology is there so let’s embrace it and use it and hopefully improve the game going forward. If something can improve out of this, that’s a positive as well.” 

The Jockey Club of Canada will present Rose Day with the 2025 Outstanding Groom Award, Tove Morgan with the Outstanding Off-track Worker Award, and Jodie Hiesinger with the inaugural Outstanding Western Canadian Backstretch Worker Award, the group announced via a press release that also included the media finalists for the 2025 Sovereign Awards. Part of the Woodbine Racetrack community for nearly three decades, Day has been a groom for 22 years–13 of them with Sid and Larry Attard. Recognized for her consistently positive attitude and ability to motivate those around her, she has cared for some of the stable's top runners, including Kingsport and One Bay Hemingway. A fixture with some of the most well-respected outfits in Canadian racing, Tove Morgan has spent time with Roger Attfield, Kinghaven Farms, and Adena Springs, and is currently an integral member of the Hill 'N' Dale Canada team, helping to foal out dozens of mares each year. A graduate of the Olds College Exercise Rider program in 2012, Jodie Hiesinger has been an assistant trainer with Rod Cone since 2016, garnering the respect of staff and owners alike. Listed in alphabetical order, the finalists for the 2025 Media Sovereign Awards categories are as follows: Digital Audio/Visual and Broadcast Category FanDuel TV–Emma-Jayne Wilson: The Comeback, aired August 16, 2025 Horse Racing Alberta–The Career of Robertino Diodoro, aired August 15, 2025 Woodbine Entertainment–Free Rein: It Runs in the Family, aired April 11, 2025 Photograph Category Clive Cohen–Love Illuminated, published November 5, 2025 in The Paulick Report Santino Di Paola–The Roar, published August 17, 2025 on HBPA-Ontario.com Jason Halsted–Running under the Harvest Moon, published September 12, 2025 in the Assiniboia Downs Inside Track Will Wong–Corsia Veloce, published December 16, 2025 on OntarioRacing.com Writing Category Jamie T. Attard–A Long Way (and a long wait) to the Top, published March 7, 2025 on CanadianThoroughbred.com Dave Briggs–How divine intervention led No Time to a Woodbine Oaks championship in Memory of Boss Lady J, published July 29, 2025 on TIP.OntarioRacing.com Eric Mitchell and Molly Rollins–Canadian Breeders Shaken by Tariff Threats, published March 14, 2025 on BloodHorse.com Joe Nevills–Kentucky Derby Alum Mohaymen Living A Non-Traditional Stallion's Life In Ontario, published May 6, 2025 on The Paulick Report Natalie Voss–As Woodbine Opens Its Season, Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson Is Waiting In The Wings – For Now, published April 28, 2025 on The Paulick Report   Judging for the Media Awards is performed by media professionals within the industry selected from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The winner in each of the three Media Sovereign Award categories will be announced, along with the other Sovereign Award winners and Canada's Horse of the Year, during the 51st Annual Sovereign Awards Ceremony on the evening of Thursday, Apr. 23 at Paramount Eventspace in Woodbridge, Ontario. The post Industry Award Recipients, Media Sovereign Award Finalists Revealed appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Capital Stud's Topgear had his first mares scanned in foal, the stud announced on Friday. The multiple group winner, who scored in the G2 Challenge Stakes, stands for €7,500 this year. “We are delighted to announce that Topgear has had his first mares scanned in foal,” the stud said in a statement. “It's an exciting milestone for this exceptional young stallion and a hugely encouraging start to his stud career at Capital Stud. Early scans have been very positive, and we are grateful to the breeders who have shown such strong support in his first season. “An unbeaten 2YO and the highest Timeform-rated son of Wootton Bassett retired to stud this year, Topgear is out of a Giant's Causeway mare, offering breeders a brilliant outcross option. Correct and good-looking, with a big walk, he has impressed breeders from the outset. “We very much look forward to welcoming his first foals next year.” The post Topgear’s First Mares Scanned In Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Coolmore has bought 1,100 acres of land from Shadwell Farm in Kentucky for close to $50-million, according to a source. TDN understands the deal has been completed. Shadwell was owned by the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, brother of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The farm lies close to Ashford Stud, Keeneland Racecourse and its sale grounds, Lexington Blue Grass Airport, and Calumet Farm. The post Coolmore Buys Shadwell Farm for $50m in Kentucky appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article

Point-to-pointer Amber Dancer (Dragon Dancer) was one of the choicest lots during Friday's ThoroughBid February Sale at £12,000, selling to Matt Coleman and will now be trained by Neil King. Consigned by Willie Mullins, she holds a second-place effort when debuting in a point-to-point Flat race at Duncombe Park earlier this month. Dan Astbury paid £20,000 for Dan's Allstar from the consignment of Tom Keating. The son of Malinas has placed once in three runs in point-to-points and is from the family of G2 Martell Cup Chase winner Scotton Banks (Le Moss). Duce Bigalow (Pour Moi) (lot 12) sold for £19,000 to Maurice Ryan. Offered by Seamus Neville, the seven-year-old gelding has placed thrice in chases and point-to-points. Gordon Elliott's Big Stage (Walk In The Park) (lot 16) has changed hands for £14,000 to a gentleman. Overall, 14 lots sold from 28 offered (50%) for a gross of £116,800. The average was £8,324 and the median was £8,750. James Richardson, CEO of ThoroughBid, gave his thoughts on the sale as a whole, “The February Sale has continued what's been a really encouraging start to 2026 for ThoroughBid. Amber Dancer is a nice British pointer who created plenty of interest as a wildcard entry and it's great to see her purchased by Matt Coleman to be trained by Neil King – she looks a lovely prospect. “It was also pleasing to see strong demand again for Gordon Elliott's consignment, with Big Stage heading to Stuart Coltherd after that impressive win at Ayr, while Dan's Allstar and Moonshine River added further depth to the sale. It will be particularly interesting to see if Dan's Allstar – or indeed any of our eligible graduates – can land the £5,000 Point-to-Rules Bonus in the coming months, which adds an extra layer of excitement for owners.” The post Amber Dancer Highlights ThoroughBid February Sale appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article