Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hero Willydoit is making pleasing progress for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy and is on track to resume in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie in September.
The rising five-year-old gelding was a standout for the Byerley Park trainers last term, winning four of his seven starts, including the New Zealand Derby, and ran fourth in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m) before transferring to the care of leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher.
The son of Tarzino failed to recapture his three-year-old form this term, finishing unplaced in all five of his starts for Maher, and the decision was made to bring him back to New Zealand to rejoin the Clotworthys.
He has subsequently undergone a wind operation and he has come through that procedure well, having recently been given the tick of approval from veterinarian Dr Jack O'Brien.
“He had a wind operation since he arrived back in New Zealand and Jack O’Brien just scoped him the other morning and he was pretty happy with what he saw,” Shaun Clotworthy said.
“He has been pleasing us work-wise, he has had a few easy run a longs, and we have been doing most of his work out at the beach. I might try to get him to have a gallop between races at Ruakaka on the first (of November) if possible.”
All going to plan, Willydoit will be targeted toward the Spring Triple Crown, which will kick-off at Ellerslie on September 5.
“He was a great three-year-old and gave us a big thrill,” Clotworthy said. “If he returns to his three-year-old form I think he will be competitive.”
Stablemate Pulsatilla is on the same path as Willydoit, and Clotworthy is hoping the rising four-year-old mare can measure up against open company.
The Gerry Harvey-bred and raced daughter of Redwood already has black-type under her belt after winning the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) at Ellerslie last November, and Clotworthy is eager to add to her stakes haul.
“Pulsatilla is on the same path as Willydoit and she is progressing well,” Clotworthy said. “She has really strengthened up and matured. She is a filly with plenty of ability and hopefully she is going to come up this time too.”
Group Two-winning stablemate Hezashocka is also set to resume at Ellerslie on September 5, having had a freshen-up following a seven-start campaign on his return to New Zealand earlier this year, which netted two placings.
“He went nicely last time, and he has just had a freshen-up and we will probably see him back on Proisir Plate Day as well in the Open 2200m,” Clotworthy said.
Meanwhile, the stable will head to Te Aroha on Sunday with half a dozen runners, including talented hurdler Roc Up Ralph, who is readying for the Hospitality NZ Canterbury 136th Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton on August 8.
The six-year-old gelding was runner-up to Billy Boy in the Wellington Hurdles (3200m) at Trentham earlier this month and he will bid to go one better at Te Aroha when he contests the Comag Open Hurdle (3100m).
“We were happy with his last run at Trentham, and he has come back and done well since, and worked well,” Clotworthy said. “He will have this and then head to Christchurch for the last day.”
Clotworthy is also excited about Mobilized having his first start over hurdles in the P Brosnan Contracting Maiden Hurdle (3100m).
The four-year-old son of Zed heads into the race with great form on the flat, having won one and placed in three of his last four starts, and Clotworthy said a return to the flat is likely after the weekend.
“He is a Zed and he has got quite a bit of jumping ability, and he seems like a very genuine horse,” Clotworthy said.
“He has been very consistent and he has had a couple of jumping trials now, so we thought we would give him a jumping race and then he might revert back to the flat again.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
