Stable chasing flat and hurdle features
Shaun and Emma Clotworthy have top-flight ambitions for two members of their Byerley Park stable in the coming weeks and, in the short term, will also chase a prestige jumps victory.
The husband-and-wife team have Willydoit and Pulsatilla on target for Group One spring features while Roc Up Ralph will chase top honours in The Vet Associates Equine Pakuranga Hunt Hurdle (3100m) at Te Aroha on Sunday.
Placed in a recent Ruakaka trial, Willydoit is making good progress toward resuming his domestic career following a stint with Ciaron Maher after his Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) victory.
Plans are for him to contest all three legs of the Triple Crown, the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m), Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) and the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).
“At this stage, he’ll run in the Proisir and then head on to the Mile and the 2000m as well,” Shaun Clotworthy said.
Pulsatilla showed her quality last preparation when she won the Listed Trevor & Coralie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m), her second success from six starts and also trialled well at Ruakaka.
“She’ll run in the Rating 75 over 1300m on Proisir Plate Day, she’s coming up well,” Clotworthy said.
“She had a gallop at Ellerslie this morning and Opie Bosson rode her and he was really happy with her.”
Pulsatilla is also in line for a start in the Howden Insurance Mile and holds a nomination for the Livamol.
In the short term, the stable focus is on this weekend’s Te Aroha meeting with Roc Up Ralph in tip-top order for the feature hurdle.
“We’re really happy with him and he’s had a good season so far so hopefully he can carry on with it,” Clotworthy said.
“He’s been working well, he’s fit and everything is pointing in the right direction.”
Roc Up Ralph finished runner-up in last month’s Wellington Hurdles (3200m) before he won an open event over Sunday’s course and distance.
At his most recent outing, the seven-year-old finished fourth in a highweight at Rotorua and will be ridden by Hamish McNeill.
“We think he’ll be competitive again, although he could probably do with a bit more rain,” Clotworthy said.
A crack at next month’s J Swap Great New Zealand Hurdles (4200m) will complete Roc Up Ralph’s campaign.
“He’s trained on very well and I was happy with his flat run the other day, he kept finding the line and safely through Sunday he’ll got there and that will be his lot for the season,” Clotworthy said.
Meanwhile, Espadas led home his stablemates Pulsatilla and Willydoit in their Ruakaka heat to draw attention to his resuming prospects in the Manco Handicap (1150m).
He hasn’t raced since he finished a respectable sixth, and only two and a-half lengths off winner Cannon Hill, in an open handicap at Ellerslie in April.
“He’s kicking off again and he trialled nicely the other day,” Clotworthy said.
He also liked the chances of Must Be Colin West Panelbeaters Maiden (1400m) after lead-up thirds at Rotorua and Te Aroha.
