Derby favourite follows proven path
Richard Edmunds - Raceform • February 21st, 2025 1:00 PM
No fewer than 10 of the last 13 winners of the Gr. 1 New Zealand Derby have won or placed in the Gr. 2 Avondale Guineas as their final lead-up to the Ellerslie classic, and Willydoit’s connections are giving him the opportunity to follow in those famous footsteps.
This remarkable run began with Silent Achiever, who won the Avondale Guineas and the Derby in 2012. Habibi finished third in the 2013 Avondale Guineas before taking out the Derby, and then four horses in a row completed the Guineas-Derby double – Puccini in 2014, Mongolian Khan in 2015, Rangipo in 2016 and Gingernuts in 2017.
Subsequent Derby winner Vin De Dance finished third in the Avondale Guineas in 2018, and Sherwood Forest filled the same position in 2020. Recent years have seen another two Guineas-Derby doubles courtesy of Rocket Spade in 2021 and Orchestral last year.
Willydoit has enjoyed a long run at the head of Derby betting and currently dominates the market at $2, with the next best backed Hinekaha and Tuxedo at $5.
The scopey Tarzino gelding made up eye-catching ground to finish third on debut over 1150m at Te Aroha in November, then strung together an outstanding winning treble at Ellerslie. He took out a 1400m maiden race on December 12, followed by a 1600m race for three-year-olds on New Year’s Day and a 1600m Rating 75 against older horses on February 1.
“His wins have been getting more and more impressive each time,” co-trainer Shaun Clotworthy told RaceForm. “He’s shown that he’s definitely well above average and has a real liking for Ellerslie, which is always a plus. It’ll be good to take him back there again on Saturday for the proven Derby lead-up.
“He’s been good through the couple of weeks since that last win. He’s done everything on his first preparation and is still quite immature, which we’ve been mindful of and we’ve treated him carefully. We haven’t done too much with him, but he’s had a couple of nice gallops. One final hitout on Wednesday morning should have him spot on.
“You never know whether a horse is going to stay until you try, but everything about him gives us the impression that he’ll relish going further than 1600 metres.”
Saturday’s Avondale Guineas sees Willydoit reunite with jockey Masa Hashizume, who rode him in his first three starts before suffering a broken collarbone in a race fall at Trentham in late January. Kevin Stott was a temporary replacement last start while Hashizume was sidelined.
Willydoit will be joined in Saturday’s Guineas field by his stablemate Interplanetary, who was a last-start sixth over the same course and 2100m distance on February 1.
“He’s still a colt and got a bit wayward,” Clotworthy said. “I thought he was going to get up and win that race, but then he just ducked in behind horses. He’s worked well since then and we’re happy with him. We think there’s improvement there.”
Clotworthy is also looking forward to seeing Aftermath line up in Saturday’s Gr. 3 Eagle Technology Avondale Cup, while the Gr. 1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic will be one of the final elite-level opportunities for well-performed mare Malt Time.
“Aftermath seems to have turned a corner with a couple of really nice wins in his last two starts,” Clotworthy said. “Saturday is a big step up, but we do think going up to 2400 metres will really suit him.
“Malt Time was good in the BCD Group Sprint last time, she had to get back from an awkward draw but found the line really well. She’ll have only a couple more starts before retiring to the broodmare barn.
“She’s in good order and always tries her heart out. We’d love to pick up a Group One with her, but it’s not going to be easy in that race on Saturday.”
Picture at the Top of the Page: New Zealand Derby favourite is set for his final lead-up in Saturday’s Avondale Guineas. Photo: Supplied
