Willydoit on way back

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.”