It was a day of both lows and highs for trainer Joe Pride who nearly lost his former The Everest champion in a race fall before claiming the $5 million King Charles III Stakes 2024 win with his brilliant galloper Ceolwulf at Royal Randwick.

Earlier on The Everest Day Pride thought he had lost Think About It, winner of last year’s $20 million The Everest, when the horse suffered a bleeding attack and crashed to the ground during the running of the Group 3 $2 million Sydney Stakes.

Incredibly, the gallant horse got back up on his feet and walked off the track looking to have escaped serious injury.

Then, following the historic win of Bella Nipotina for Ciaron Maher in the 2024 The Everest, the day’s second Group 1 was run and won by Pride’s potential best-ever horse.

“An absolute rollercoaster today. As if last year the same day wasn’t enough. You get a little bit numb as a trainer because if you felt every up and down, it’d send you around the bend,” Pride told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“But just really grateful to come across a horse like this. The world’s his oyster.”

The official second running of the King Charles III Stakes over the Randwick mile saw four-year-old Tavistock gelding Ceolwulf ($6.50) salute third-up in a brilliant double on the back of his lead-up Epsom Handicap victory over the same track and trip.

Chad Schofield was aboard for both wins producing another outstanding ride.

Race favourite Pride Of Jenni from the powerhouse Maher stable was kept wide on the track by her hoop Declan Bates taking her time to roll forward and take up her expected front-running position.

On speed also keeping her honest and in work was Major Beel as the two front runners broke away from the rest of the field.

Schofield meanwhile didn’t panic happy to sit back on the last start Epsom champ and let the race unfold before him.

Pride Of Jenni opened up by three lengths around the turn with the challengers coming including the underrated My Oberon who moved up to sit even with the class mare on the straight.

With 200m to go, Schofield hit the button on Ceowulf who came with a booming run right down the outside to go past them all including beaten favourite Pride Of Jenni ($2.70F) who was gallant in defeat rallying late to keep the margin honest.

“I certainly did (think he could run down Pride Of Jenni),” Pride said.

“And I said to the guys, ‘if it doesn’t happen this year, it’ll happen next year’.

“I’ve been confident he’s on that path towards being one of the best horses around.

“After today, he’s there. He’s on his way, I think he’s already a star.

“We gelded him. I’ll probably have some of the owners say, why did you geld him? I think he’s a better horse now as a gelding.”

The King Charles III Stakes trifecta was again completed by My Oberon ($26) who was just a length beaten at big odds for Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald after his third to Fangirl the year before.

Chris Waller’s defending champion Fangirl meanwhile had a horror run getting caught back between runners and unable to get out in time to challenge eventually crossing four lengths back sixth.

Pride, who has 47 horses in work, had 12 runners across The Everest Day card and so to win the Group 1 was a huge feat in itself for the deserving horseman.

“It’s great, you know. Racing has been dominated by some big stables of late,” Pride said.

“For our stable to compete, a medium-sized stable of less than 50 horses. to compete on the big stage here.

“Very proud, big team behind the effort here. It was an amazing event.”

There are a host of upcoming Melbourne spring racing options now for Ceolwulf including the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) over further at Flemington on November 9 for which he is now the $5 second elect to win behind Via Sistina.

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