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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Joe Pride has been saving a significant gear change on dual Group 1 winner Ceolwulf for the right time and that time will be in Saturday’s $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Trainer Joe Pride (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The five-year-old will be sporting blinkers for the first time, gear Pride often uses to great effect.

He's been racing well in Pride’s eye this spring but with that addition plus the promise of a genuine tempo, thanks to Pride Of Jenni, and the potential of a stormy end to the week his confidence is growing of a title defence.

“I’ve kept a gear change up my sleeve for a fair while with this horse with a set of blinkers and they’ll go on this Saturday,” Pride said.

“I think they will help him but I’d love to get a wet track as well.”

The Warwick Farm trainer isn’t looking for heavy ground for Ceolwulf but just that edge off.

He finished midfield behind Autumn Glow in the TAB Epsom under 58kg, 4kg more than he carried a year earlier, in a race that didn’t change complexion a whole lot in the run.

But the addition of Pride Of Jenni, who Ceolwulf ran down to win the King Charles III a year ago, changes the game according to Pride.

“He’s been racing well throughout the preparation without winning,’’ he said.

“I’d love to get a bit of a soft track, there’s potentially some stormy weather around Friday so I’ll be cheering for that.

“I think he’s had the preparation to win the race but if he doesn’t get that (edge off) they are slick.

“It’s hard to compare his Epsom runs, I’m not going to say his Epsom run was better this year than last year but he did carry top weight on what was a moderate speed for what he requires.

“He should get a nice fast run race and I think he’ll be in the finish.”

Chad Schofield continues his association with Ceolwulf, $15 in TAB's pre-noms market, on Saturday.

Pride will also be represented by El Castello, who beat one home in the Epsom but the trainer is putting a lot of that down to being second-up after almost 12 months off the scene.

“He was a bit disappointing in the Epsom but I think he can turn that around,” he said.

“I thought he ran plain after charging into it momentarily in the straight. Maybe he was a little flat on the day, he would enjoy a strong tempo as well.”

Godolphin gelding Golden Mile makes his debut for Pride in the Group 3 $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.

He’ll line up alongside at least two stablemates with Dragonstone and Coal Crusher confirmed to run.

Pride said naturally Golden Mile may find some of his rivals a bit sharp, though he did place at 1200m in the Victory Stakes earlier in the year.

“I’m really happy with him, I think he will improve with the run,” he said.

Ceolwulf's sixth in the Epsom Handicap

“He’s a big gross horse and some racing will do him good.”

It’s likely the six-year-old heads to the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) on Golden Eagle Day with the Group 1 Orr Stakes (1400m) a possible target.

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