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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
Derby mission continues for Clotworthys
Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • January 31st, 2025 1:54 pm
Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Shaun and Emma Clotworthy’s hopes for the upcoming Group 1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m), Willydoit and Interplanetary, will continue their preparations for the $1.25 million feature in respective events at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Willydoit has been the talking point of the Derby since winning his maiden over 1400m in December, a performance backed up with a commanding victory over Group Three winner Tuxedo on New Year’s Day.
The son of Tarzino was a New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale purchase, however, he wasn’t entered for the Karaka Millions series, meaning he was missing from the start-list for the $1.5 million three-year-old contest last Saturday.
Instead, the Clotworthy’s have identified the TAB 1600 as the logical next step for Willydoit before he takes on the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) on February 22, and his ultimate target a fortnight later.
“He’s had a couple of trips away to gallop away from home in between runs,” Clotworthy said. “He’ll probably be a little bit vulnerable this Saturday with the time between races, but we’ve been conscious that it’s his first preparation and we didn’t want to overdo it in getting him to the Derby.
“He wasn’t nominated for the Karaka Millions unfortunately, otherwise we probably would’ve gone there.
“His plan now will be Saturday’s race, into the Avondale Guineas and the Derby.”
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Willydoit currently dominates the Derby market at $2.80, while Interplanetary is still very much in the mix at $18 following a meritorious run in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m), where he came from last to finish fourth behind Mustang Morgan.
“He probably got out of his ground a little bit in the Gingernuts, but he was strong to the line,” Clotworthy said. “He’d had a bit of a space between races so he should strip fitter this Saturday.
“We will probably try not to ride him quite as cold as we did in the Gingernuts and see if he can still finish off, but we were happy with his run there and his last couple have been nice.
“He’s a horse that will definitely get the Derby distance, there’s no doubt about that, so he’ll probably follow the same path after this Saturday, Avondale into the Derby.”
Interplanetary will take his place in the Horizon By SkyCity 2100, with Kevin Stott engaged to ride both runners.
Meanwhile, the Byerley Park couple have followed their winning recipe at Karaka this week, purchasing a pair of Tarzino yearlings, as well as combining with MyRacehorse to purchase a Contributer colt for $160,000.
After an impressive trial appearance prior to his debut, Willydoit caught the attention of the American-based syndicators, who purchased a 50 percent share in the gelding alongside the Clotworthys and Bryan Black. Their association will continue with lot 286 out of the draft of Mapperley Stud, a close relation to Group One winner Sound Proposition.
“The Contributer is a nice walking colt and had lovely balance,” Clotworthy said. “They (MyRacehorse) were looking for a nice mile-2000m horse and we thought he fitted that category. He’s a really nice athlete.
“I think Tarzinos are really starting to hit their straps now, he’s had a good last two or three months with successful horses winning good races.
“We liked the colt, he had great balance and they are plainer type of horses, but he was a good athlete and reminded us a bit of Willydoit so we bought him. We bought the filly with Bryan Black, we thought she was a nice athlete and were happy to secure her as well.”
