Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hero Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) 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.”

Stablemate Pulsatilla (NZ) (Redwood) is on the same path as Willydoit, and Clotworthy is hoping the rising four-year-old mare can measure up against open company.

The Gerry Harvey-bred and raced daughter of Redwood already has black-type under her belt after winning the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) at Ellerslie last November, and Clotworthy is eager to add to her stakes haul.

“Pulsatilla is on the same path as Willydoit and she is progressing well,” Clotworthy said. “She has really strengthened up and matured. She is a filly with plenty of ability and hopefully she is going to come up this time too.”

Group Two-winning stablemate Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) is also set to resume at Ellerslie on September 5, having had a freshen-up following a seven-start campaign on his return to New Zealand earlier this year, which netted two placings.

“He went nicely last time, and he has just had a freshen-up and we will probably see him back on Proisir Plate Day as well in the Open 2200m,” Clotworthy said.

Meanwhile, the stable will head to Te Aroha on Sunday with half a dozen runners, including talented hurdler Roc Up Ralph (NZ) (Roc de Cambes), who is readying for the Hospitality NZ Canterbury 136^th Grand National Hurdles (4200m) at Riccarton on August 8.

The six-year-old gelding was runner-up to Billy Boy (So You Think) in the Wellington Hurdles (3200m) at Trentham earlier this month and he will bid to go one better at Te Aroha when he contests the Comag Open Hurdle (3100m).

 “We were happy with his last run at Trentham, and he has come back and done well since, and worked well,” Clotworthy said. “He will have this and then head to Christchurch for the last day.”

Clotworthy is also excited about Mobilized (NZ) (Zed) having his first start over hurdles in the P Brosnan Contracting Maiden Hurdle (3100m).

The four-year-old son of Zed heads into the race with great form on the flat, having won one and placed in three of his last four starts, and Clotworthy said a return to the flat is likely after the weekend.

“He is a Zed and he has got quite a bit of jumping ability, and he seems like a very genuine horse,” Clotworthy said.

“He has been very consistent and he has had a couple of jumping trials now, so we thought we would give him a jumping race and then he might revert back to the flat again.” - NZ Racing Desk

In-form Jasmine has sweet smell of success

Fresh from clinching back-to-back trainers' premierships at Hawkesbury, Brad Widdup has in-form mare Satono Jasmine (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) ready to stretch her winning sequence to four at Randwick.

The filly rises to Saturday company for the B & K Group Australia Handicap (1800m) off the back of a hat-trick of victories in provincial and midweek grade, and Widdup admits he's surprised she has been able to come so far in just her second preparation.

"If you'd asked me if I'd thought she'd get to Saturday grade this time around, I would have said, 'no'," Widdup said.

"She has done a really good job.

"I was half thinking about putting her in the paddock after last start, but it's a fillies and mares race over 1800 on a Saturday worth A$160,000. You've got to have a crack.

"She's in really good order, so fingers crossed she can run well again."

Satono Jasmine posted back-to-back wins at Gosford and Hawkesbury by a combined total of more than eight lengths, both on rain-affected ground.

But any thoughts she was purely a wet track specialist were put to bed when she scored on a good surface at Warwick Farm last start.

The one thing her victories have had in common is the distance - they've all been over a mile - and Widdup is looking forward to stretching her in trip on Saturday before sending her for a well-earned spell.

"I've wanted to push her out over further and she's found a fillies and mares' (benchmark) 78 on a Saturday, so we'll see what happens," he said.

Making Satono Jasmine's vein of form even sweeter is the fact Brad Widdup Racing is one of two part-owners.

Her connections also raced her half-sister, Pro Velocity (NZ) (Proisir), whose best result in 17 starts for them was a 2100m win at Newcastle's Beaumont track.

"That makes it a bit better too. We had Pro Velocity, the sister and didn't have much luck, so this one is repaying that. Fingers crossed she can keep going on with it." - RAS NewsWire

Fahys farewell unbeaten Aurora Belle

Pukekohe trainers Conor and Sarah Fahy have farewelled unbeaten three-year-old Aurora Belle, with the promising filly sold to Australia to join the Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and JD Hayes.

The daughter of Belardo won both of her starts at Te Rapa, attracting strong interest after each victory.

"There was a good bit of interest in her after both wins," Fahy said.

"It's one of those things where we were offered money we couldn't refuse. She's on her way to Australia and will be joining the Lindsay Park team.

"I think the world is her oyster. We were only scratching the surface with her and I know there's a hell of a lot left under the bonnet.

"It's sad to see her leave because I think she'll come back next preparation a completely different horse.

"Michael McNab had a similar opinion. The rate she was improving each run was frightening.

"She'll handle better ground as well. She's not just a wet-track horse. She's got a high cruising speed and can quicken off it. I wouldn't rush her beyond 1400 metres just yet, but I think that's an ideal trip for her."

The Fahys return to Te Rapa on Saturday with four-time winner Procella in the $100,000 Paul McGlade Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m), and Fahy believes the six-year-old can outperform her long odds.

"She did a brilliant piece of work on Tuesday. She hasn't won in a while, but I think she's a sneaky chance," he said.

"Her last run wasn't as bad as it looks on paper. She was just a bit slow away and finished where she started.

"She has a habit of getting left in the barriers, but if she jumps and gets herself into a handy position, she'll give them something to think about."

The stable also produced several encouraging performances at this week's Avondale trials, headed by Earthlight two-year-old Workout.

"There's a bit of interest in him as well and he's come through the trial nicely," Fahy said.

"I'm thinking of nominating him for the Northland Breeders' Stakes at Ruakaka. We rate him highly."

Unswayed also caught the eye with an impressive trial victory.

"There's interest in him too, but if he stays with us he'll probably head to a 1400-metre maiden. He's one for punters to keep an eye on."

Fahy is equally excited about Satono Aladdin two-year-old Lawless Rascal, although he expects the gelding to shine later on.

"He's a cracking horse. He's big, tall and leggy, and just wants to do everything a bit quickly.

"We'll give him another quiet trial before tipping him out. He'll come into his own in the autumn and hopefully develop into a nice Derby horse." - NZ Racing Desk

McKhan primed for northern raid

Awapuni galloper McKhan (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) has had everything go his way this preparation and he has performed accordingly, and trainer Ashley Meadows is hoping his golden run continues at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The rising eight-year-old gelding hasn’t finished outside of the money in his four starts this preparation, including winning his last two outings in open company.

Buoyed by McKhan’s run of form, Meadows was in search of his next target and had to set his sights north after he couldn’t find a suitable race in his own region, and he landed on Saturday’s Paul McGlade Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m), with its $100,000 purse a big draw.

“He has won his last two and he is going super and there was nowhere else to go,” Meadows said. “It is worth the travel going for it.”

Meadows said McKhan is thriving on winter racing.

“I think he has been quite well placed, he has got in on the minimum and on off tracks, they have probably helped him out a bit too,” he said.

“He has matured and he is racing a lot kinder now too. As a young horse he was quite difficult, but he is settling in his races and he is seeing out a trip.”

McKhan will jump from barrier seven on Saturday and will be ridden by apprentice jockey Liam Kauri.

“I am quite happy with the draw,” Meadows said. “I think Pacifico might lead and there is speed outside him, so he should get another cosy run in the trail.”

McKhan is currently an $8.50 equal second favourite for the Taumarunui Gold Cup (2200m), alongside Pacifico (NZ) (Ardrossan) and Notabadspillane (NZ) (Time Test), with Tisse heading the market at $3.60.

Win, lose or draw, Meadows said McKhan will head for a well-deserved break following his weekend run.

Looking ahead to the new season, Meadows is excited about the return of his Group Three winner The Scunner (NZ) (Shamexpress).

The rising seven-year-old gelding had a pleasing season, winning two of his eight starts, including the Gr.3 Spring Sprint (1400m) at Trentham in December, and he was also runner-up in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m).

The Scunner is being set to defend his crown in the Spring Sprint, but this year at its usual home of Hastings in October on the final day of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival. - Joshua Smith