Saturday looms as a special day in the careers of Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, who are the part-owners and former trainers of two horses that will chase million-dollar prizes in Australia.
The couple’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hero Willydoit will line up in the A$1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill, while Hezashocka takes on just three opponents in the A$1 million Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
The Clotworthys bought Willydoit for $75,000 as a yearling at Karaka and trained him through a standout three-year-old season that produced four wins headed by the New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie in March.
Now trained by Ciaron Maher, the Tarzino gelding caught everyone’s eye with a flying finish into eighth when he resumed in the Gr.2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 6. That performance pointed to him being a live chance in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), but he was a late scratching just hours out from the race because of a minor eye issue.
“That was a bit of bad luck,” Shaun Clotworthy said. “I’m not sure if it was a slight bug, or if he gave it a bang in the float on the way to the track or what it was. It wasn’t anything major and it had cleared up completely by the next day, but it was enough for the stewards to scratch him.
“The horse has had a good week since then. Emma’s been over there watching him, and I’ve seen some video of him galloping. He’s looking great.
“He was entered for the Alan Brown as well as the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m) in Melbourne, where the mile might have suited him a little bit better than the 1400m. But he drew poorly for both races and they’ve decided to stay in Sydney. I’m just hoping there’ll be enough tempo over the 1400m for him to be able to finish the race off strongly.”
Kerrin McEvoy will take the mount on Willydoit in Saturday’s Alan Brown, in which the TAB rates him an $11 fourth favourite behind Miss Roumbini ($4.60), Gringotts ($7) and Bosustow ($10).
Further down the track, Maher and the MyRacehorse ownership team are aiming Willydoit at the A$10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on November 1.
“He’s still got a few spring nominations, like the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m), but I think the Golden Eagle is the target they’re working towards,” Clotworthy said.
Meanwhile in Melbourne, Hezashocka will kick off his new campaign with a first-up run against Treasurethe Moment, Buckaroo and Globe in the Might And Power Stakes.
The Clotworthys paid only $18,000 to buy the son of Shocking as a yearling, and they trained him to win the Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) at Ellerslie as an autumn three-year-old.
Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr have added another four wins and more than A$1.4 million to that record, including victories in the Gr.3 Premier’s Cup (2400m) and Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2200m) along with placings in the Gr.1 Champions Stakes (2000m), Gr.3 JRA Plate (2000m) and Listed Mornington Cup (2400m).
“It’s exciting to have a Group One runner, and with only a four-horse field, we’ll be picking up a cheque,” Clotworthy said.
“Mick Price was just looking to kick the horse off somewhere, so he’s going to benefit from this run. He hasn’t raced since July.
“But Jamie Melham has always got on well with him, and strange things can happen in these small fields.”
Hezashocka is the $41 outsider of the field, with Treasurethe Moment at $1.70, Buckaroo at $2.50 and Globe at $6.50.
The Clotworthys will also have runners at two New Zealand meetings this weekend. They will saddle Roc Up Ralph in the AR Printers Premier (2200m) at Otaki on Saturday, followed a day later by Quill in the Rotorua Club (1950m) at Rotorua.
Roc Up Ralph has been in top form through the winter and early spring, recording two wins and four second placings from his last seven starts. The only exception was a last-start seventh on an improving track at Te Rapa on September 27.
“I sent Roc Up Ralph down to Otaki this morning, and I’ve heard from Howie Mathews that it’s raining down there and it will be a heavy track,” Clotworthy said. “He’ll be right at home in those conditions.”
Quill also boasts a consistent form line. He has never further back than sixth in his last eight starts dating back to the beginning of June.
“His last couple of runs have been on soft tracks and he’s looking for a bit more easing in the ground, which he should get on Sunday as well,” Clotworthy said. “He’s been racing very consistently. He just needs to improve a touch more on that recent form to be winning races, but I think he’s capable of doing that.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
