Willydoit (NZ) Deals to Derby Rivals

NZB celebrated a fourth consecutive $1.25m Group One Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner when Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) blew his rivals away in the Ellerslie classic on Saturday.

Willydoit was a $75,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2023 and has now earned $847,415 from a six-start, four-win career. He has followed in the recent Derby-winning footsteps of fellow Karaka graduates Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) (Redwood) and Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock).

Willydoit was in supreme form at Ellerslie through the summer, stringing together three increasingly impressive wins. His rapid rise briefly stalled with an unplaced finish in last month's Group Two Avondale Guineas (2100m), but he bounced back in style on Saturday in the one that mattered the most.

Initially caught wide turning out of the home straight, jockey Mick Dee decided to push forward and move up into third spot down the back of the track.

The leaders began to tire down the side, but Willydoit kept advancing, taking command with 600 metres to run. Willydoit poured on the pressure coming into the straight, kicking clear and leaving the chasers scrambling. They could get no closer than two and a quarter lengths away by the finish line, with Willydoit scoring a dominant win.

“It’s my first Group One,” said Shaun Clotworthy, who trains in partnership with Emma. “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 (from micro-share syndicator MyRacehorse). 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.

“He’ll head to Australia now. It’s sad to say goodbye to him, but that’s the way it goes in racing. I think there’s still petrol in the tank for an Australian Derby (2400m). We’ll see how he pulls up from this, but he’s a pretty good horse.”

The Derby was a first Group One victory in New Zealand for Dee, who has won 14 times at that level in Australia.

“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. I have no doubt that he can be competitive in Australia.”

Willydoit became the third Group One winner for Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino (NZ). All of them have won three-year-old classics, and all were purchased through the Karaka sale ring. The previous two were Jungle Magnate (NZ) in the South Australian Derby (2500m) and Gypsy Goddess (NZ) in the Queensland Oaks (2200m).

Vendor	Westbury Stud
Purchaser	Mr S Clotworthy (Auckland)
Breeding	Tarzino – Willamette
Sale	Lot 639, Karaka 2023 Book 1, $75,000
Bred by	G Harvey