Maher strikes big at Karaka, secures Ceolwulf sibling

Ciaron Maher will train the half-brother to G1 star Ceolwulf after he paid a sale-topping $1.1 million for the colt at Karaka on Monday.

Maher’s Bloodstock Manager Will Bourne did the bidding on Maher’s behalf and came out on top after a battle with Te Akau’s David Ellis in the ring.

Bourne said the Sword Of State colt is a hulking type that appears more sharper than Ceolwulf, who is by Tavistock and was bought for $170,000 at NZB’s Ready To Run Sale in 2022.

Sword Of State’s first two-year-olds hit the track this season and they include Lindsay Park’s Stakes winner Torture and Bjorn Baker’s scratched Magic Millions favourite Warwoven.

“He (David Ellis) is a hard guy to beat, especially on his home deck and when you’re wearing the white shorts against David it’s never a good sign,” Bourne said.

“There are some similarities between them (Ceolwulf and this colt) but one was an $80,000 yearling that has developed into a really nice horse and this colt already has a lot of strength.

“He is a proper colt so hopefully we can get him home and turn him into something.”

Grahame Begg will train Mr Brightside’s half-brother, who was bought by Begg’s Racing Manager Rohan Hughes for $260,000 on Monday.

Mr Brightside was famously sourced for $22,000 out of Karaka’s May Sale in 2019.