Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
"Bigger fish to fry": Why Nic Ashman is against Ceolwulf at Randwick this Saturday
Ethan Clark • February 14th, 2025 4:24 pm
Form Analyst Nic Ashman thinks there are too many variables against Ceolwulf this Saturday in the Apollo Stakes for it to topple the world-class field.
First-up from the second-widest barrier (seven), Ashman would rather wait until later in the carnival before following the four-year-old with any confidence.
“There’s bigger fish to fry this autumn for Ceolwulf,” he told Gareth Hall on SENTrack's Giddy Up.
“The 1400m start point at Randwick is the trickiest one at the track… you don’t really want to be three-wide with no cover there.
“If you go back, you diminish your chances of winning because Lindermann and Golden Path probably go to the front and they won’t tax themselves too much. Via Sistina gets a lovely trail in behind them.
“These early WFA races, the level of intent you never quite know particularly with horses that are already multiple Group 1 winners… then you throw in a heavy or wet track and all of a sudden it makes it much more difficult to decipher who is going to come out on top.”
Despite being unsure of exactly where trainer Joseph Pride is targeting the gelding, Ashman set out what he would do if he was in control.
“I think you’ve got to remain focused on bigger things. If (Ceolwulf) was mine I’d be going to the All-Star Mile being a gelding, that’s a great race for him,” he said.
“He’d be close to the horse to beat if he goes that way… but I think (Pride) is pretty keen to get to the Queen Elizabeth and win that.
“I think he’d win it because the tracks (in Melbourne) tend to be drier… I think he’s a better horse on top of the ground.”
The horse that will avoid any such inconvenience in the race according to Ashman is Via Sistina; also first-up from its win in the Mackinnon last November.
“I think Via Sistina gets all the breaks, she gets the right map, and I think she should be able to take care of him tomorrow,” Ashman claimed.
Via Sistina will be without her usual partner-in-crime James McDonald, however, with the 33-year-old deciding to race at Flemington to ride Switzerland in the Black Caviar Lightning.
This leaves the door open for Kerrin McEvoy who has won his only steer on the horse.
Ceolwulf sits at $4.20 with Sportsbet while Via Sistina is the $2 favourite after opening at $1.95.
Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit. For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
