Memories of a confidence-denting defeat in last month’s Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) were blown away on Saturday as Willydoit powered to a dominant victory in the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie.
Willydoit strung together three increasingly impressive wins at the Auckland track during the summer and spent most of the last three months at the head of fixed-odds betting for the $1.25 million classic.
However, the Tarzino gelding dropped out to a distant third-last among a 15-horse field in the Avondale Guineas on February 22 and made little impression from the back in a slowly run race. He eventually crossed the line in 10th, almost five lengths adrift of the Australian-trained winner Thedoctoroflove.
Willydoit’s rise to stardom had suddenly stalled, and his firm grip on Derby favouritism was loosening. The Avondale Guineas has been the very best Derby guide in recent times, with seven of the last 13 Avondale Guineas winners going on to Derby success. Another three Derby winners were placegetters in the Guineas during that period.
But supporters stuck strong with Willydoit, sending him out as a $3.70 favourite for Derby redemption. He had a new jockey, Melbourne-based expat Kiwi rider Mick Dee, who made sure there would be no repeat of what happened two weeks ago.
Awkwardly drawn in gate 14 among a 16-horse field, Dee was flushed out four wide as the field turned out of the home straight with a lap to go. Dee elected to press forward, sliding up into third down the back straight as Amazing Fluke and Grey Area set the pace.
While those two began to tire and fade out of contention coming down the side of the track, Willydoit strode forward with purpose and hit the lead with 600m to run.
Dee had a quick look over his right shoulder just before the home turn, then went for gold. Willydoit kicked again at the top of the straight and put a gap between himself and the chasers.
Thedoctoroflove, Golden Century and Mustang Morgan emerged from the pack and gave chase, but Willydoit was on another level. He swept past the finish line two and a quarter lengths in front of Thedoctoroflove.
It was a first Group One win in New Zealand for Dee, who has won 14 times at that level in Australia including the Blue Diamond (1200m) with Devil Night two weeks ago.
“It’s very special,” the 28-year-old said. “I’ve got a lot of family and friends here today, so it’s awesome.
“I had a few different sets of instructions coming into this race, but the one idea I had in my mind was to get him going early and get him up there.
“I thought I might have been able to get in a couple of times, but it was a bit ugly until we got down the back and pressed on. I said before the race that I’d rather go forward to try and get in rather than dropping back to do so. That’s what we did.
“Jeez, he was tough. That was a super effort. We were there to be run down, but he’s got great stamina and just keeps going.”
Willydoit was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey and was offered in Westbury’s Book 2 draft at Karaka 2023. He was bought by co-trainer Shaun Clotworthy for $75,000.
Now part-owned by international micro-share syndicator MyRacehorse alongside Emma Clotworthy and Bryan Black, Willydoit has had six starts for four wins, a placing and $847,415.
Willydoit was a special first Group One winner for Clotworthy, who joins his father Kim as a Derby-winning trainer. The latter won the Ellerslie classic with Uncle Remus in 1977.
“I’ve emulated Dad and it’s my first Group One,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “It’s very special to share this with Emma, my son and also the whole team. It’s a dream come true.
“I just keep on shaking people’s hands, there’s so many owners here. It’s a huge thrill and is just massive for everyone.
“Mick said before the race that he was going to roll forward and ride him like the best horse, and he was the best horse.
“The Avondale Guineas was the one blip along the road to this race, but that was just down to the pace of the race. I feel sorry for Masa (Hashizume), but that’s the way it goes in racing.”
Willydoit is now set to depart the Clotworthy stable, relocating across the Tasman for a potential Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) campaign from the Ciaron Maher stable.
“It’s sad to say goodbye to him now, but that happens,” Clotworthy said. “I think there’s still petrol in the tank for an Australian Derby. We’ll see how he pulls up from this, but he’s a pretty good horse.”
Willydoit has enhanced his sire Tarzino’s reputation as a classic sire. The Westbury Stud stallion has now been represented by three Group One winners – Jungle Magnate in the South Australian Derby (Gr.1, 2500m), Gypsy Goddess in the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m) and Willydoit in the New Zealand Derby.
By Richard Edmunds
LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.
