Saturday Preview: Can Willydoit do the Derby double?

Cover image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)

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Willydoit chases historic trans-Tasman Derby double

Kiwi sensation Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) is set to chase a rare Group 1 trans-Tasman Derby double at Royal Randwick on Saturday, before officially joining leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher. The Shaun and Emma Clotworthy-trained gelding has earned his shot at history following his brilliant G1 New Zealand Derby success on March 8.

Originally, the plan was for Willydoit to transfer to Maher immediately after his Derby victory; this was negotiated when MyRacehorse purchased a 50 per cent share in the gelding earlier in his career after winning a trial. However, a decision was made to keep him with the Clotworthys until the end of the G1 Australian Derby campaign to ensure he remained in familiar surroundings before his Randwick assault.

Willydoit will need to be at his best, as only one horse this century has completed the New Zealand-Australian Derby double—Mongolian Khan for Murray Baker in 2015. Before that, it was the legendary Bonecrusher (NZ) (Pag-Asa) in 1986.

The son of Tarzino (NZ) has settled well into his soon-to-be Australian base at Maher’s Bong Bong property and is primed for one final big effort this campaign.

Co-trainer Shaun Clotworthy spoke to the media earlier in the week about the decision to extend Willydoit's campaign and how he has handled the transition.

“We haven’t overly taxed him and we trained him in a similar environment to Bong Bong, where he’s going out in the paddock and having mini breaks, and he’s done a good job for us,’’ Clotworthy said.

“He’s still basically on his first preparation, that’s in the back of our minds a little bit, but my son has been looking after him here, and my wife Emma has been here and they’ve said he’s thrived.

“He’s got plenty of maturing in him, so if everything goes well, he can have a proper break after Saturday, and he’ll come back a bigger and better horse.

“(Ciaron) has a great set up here at Bong Bong and he’ll do well here. It’s a little bittersweet but you get a chance to have a runner in an Australian Derby as well, which is great.”

The deal with MyRacehorse has allowed Shaun’s wife Emma and Bryan Black to remain involved in the horse’s journey once he officially joins Maher.

Clotworthy describes Willydoit as an unassuming but determined horse, possessing the “balanced attitude and strong will to win” that will serve him well in Australia.

“He’s not a horse that has shown me a huge amount, he works well in himself and has a good attitude to everything,’’ Clotworthy said.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him or got to the bottom of him yet. With his pedigree and being a big athlete like he is, he should improve next preparation.”

This year's Australian Derby shapes as a strong and highly competitive edition, with several promising contenders set to do battle over the famous Randwick 2400 metres.

The one they all have to beat looks to be Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), who stormed home for a brilliant second in the G1 Rosehill Guineas last start. She will be attempting to become the first filly in 14 years to claim Derby glory. Other challengers include Shanwah (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), who brings strong Melbourne form to Sydney, while King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci) was highly impressive when placing in the G2 Tulloch Stakes and looks primed for the step up in trip.

A potential blowout chance could be Tsitsipas (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}), who has shown glimpses of serious staying ability and could relish the Derby distance.

Slipper form is the best form

The G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes shapes up as an intriguing contest, with a mix of juveniles striving for glory over 1400 metres. Glamour colts such as Rivellino (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) arrive off impressive G1 Golden Slipper Stakes performances, while the unbeaten Vinrock (I Am Invincible) and the progressive Prestige Forever (Ole Kirk) bring different form lines from Melbourne.

Adding further intrigue are a couple of beautifully bred I Am Invincible maideners, Navy Pilot and Federalist, both having just their second career starts.

Recent history suggests that Golden Slipper form is the strongest guide to success in the Sires’ Produce Stakes. In fact, the past six winners of the race have all come through the Slipper at their previous start. Adding to that 21 of the last 30 winners of this Group 1 feature have come through the Golden Slipper. This year’s contenders with that key form reference include Rivellino, Wodeton, and Bellazaine (Zousain).

Trainer Kris Lees holds Rivellino in the highest regard, believing the colt has a huge chance on Saturday. He even compared him favourably to his outstanding family member Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice), a statement that could help cement Rivellino’s future as a lucrative stallion prospect, given he is by the highly sought-after Too Darn Hot (GB).

“Samantha Miss ran second to Sebring in this race and then beat him in the Champagne Stakes,” Lees said. “This colt would have beaten her at 1200 metres, from that point of view, he is the best 2-year-old I've had.”

The son of Too Darn Hot ran a slashing fourth in the Golden Slipper after missing the start and settling well back in the field. His performance was eye-catching enough to secure Hong Kong-based jockey Hugh Bowman a return flight to Sydney to partner him in the Sires’.

“I am mindful he's been in work for a long while, but I can't fault him," Lees said. “He worked well on Tuesday and appears to be in a good space. I think he will be suited at the 1400 metres. 1400 metres has always appeared like something he'd like, looking at his mannerisms and the way he has raced.”

To secure a deserved Group 1 victory after a strong juvenile campaign, Rivellino will need to overcome the in-form Chris Waller-trained Wodeton, a $1.6 million Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate, he has long given the impression that 1400 metres would be ideal. With champion jockey Ryan Moore in the saddle, he looks a major contender and will be tough to beat.

Berry confident Gringotts can deliver in the Doncaster

The G1 Doncaster Mile is one of the great contests on the Australian racing calendar, and Saturday’s edition promises another cracking renewal with a full field of 20 set to take on Royal Randwick’s famous mile.

Jockey Tommy Berry is brimming with confidence heading into the race, believing he’s on the right horse to give him another major feature win aboard Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA})— just weeks after their stunning G1 George Ryder Stakes victory.

Berry is adamant that the Doncaster plays to the gelding’s strengths.

“Gringotts is a horse that makes his own luck,” Berry said.

“He's drawn well and I can ride him to suit the race and use his turn of speed. He enjoys getting his toe into the ground, too, so he's a pretty bombproof sort of horse.”

Dropping back from weight-for-age company into a handicap is another major advantage for Gringotts, who has consistently shouldered big weights throughout his preparation.

“At his last few runs, Gringotts has carried 58.5kg or more,” Berry noted. “He's been heavily weighted all the way through so 55.5kg is actually a luxury weight for him, considering what he has been carrying over his last few runs.”

Trained by Ciaron Maher, Gringotts secured his first Group 1 at his last-start, and Berry was quick to praise the trainer’s extraordinary operation.

“Ciaron's a remarkable trainer,” he said.

“I've had a little bit to do with Ciaron and his team, but Gringotts in the George Ryder was my first Group 1 in for him, with the Big Dance and The Gong wins on the horse along the way.

“He's an easy person to ride for, he keeps things very simple, doesn't complicate things, and has a very good idea of where you will be in the run.

“His horses rarely perform at a lower level than what his expectations are so he has a very good grasp on how they are going at home.

“Although he is all over the place with stables all over the place, Melbourne, Sydney, Bong Bong, Newcastle where the beach is – I wouldn't want to be keeping up with his travel schedule – but he always has his finger on the pulse.

“He knows every horse so well, it is a testament to him.”

With a good barrier and a horse in peak form, Gringotts looks to have plenty in his favour—but this year’s Doncaster field is packed with talent.

Among the key threats are 3-year-old star Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth), fresh from his win in the G1 Randwick Guineas, the resurgent Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}), the consistent Royal Patronage (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), who was just close-up behind Gringotts in the George Ryder, and the classy mare Firestorm (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}), who was narrowly denied in the G1 Coolmore Classic.

It won’t be easy, but with Berry’s confidence, Maher’s precision, and Gringotts’ form, they’re right in the mix to claim another Randwick feature.

Brown’s faith in Jimmy

The confidence jockey Ethan Brown has in the excitement machine that is Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is clear—he’s willingly given up a full book of rides at Caulfield to take just one at Randwick in Saturday’s G1 TJ Smith Stakes.

Trained by Ciaron Maher, Jimmysstar has returned in dazzling fashion this preparation. He was electric when resuming in the G1 Oakleigh Plate, charging home from well back to score by a widening 1.25l. He followed that up with a strong third in the G1 William Reid Stakes behind Schwarz (Zoustar), making solid ground on a day when few were able to.

Brown, who just last weekend claimed the G1 Australian Cup on Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}), is developing a fruitful partnership with Maher, particularly on the biggest days.

“He was a good horse last prep, but he’s come back a better horse, and that’s why I’ve given up rides at Caulfield for one ride at Randwick,’’ Brown said. “It’s well and truly worth it in my book. I’m very happy to go for the one (ride), and he’s a good one at that. With even luck, he’ll be in the money, I feel.”

Reflecting on Jimmysstar’s last outing in the William Reid, Brown said, “he stepped a bit slow the other day, and it was game over. He put the writing on the wall first-up in the Oakleigh Plate, and last start, he was on a track where he wasn’t suited. He spat the bit at the 600 metres on a leader’s track—it would have had to be the run of the day, in my opinion, the ground he made up. He’s a very good horse.”

On face value, the wide expanses of Randwick should suit Jimmysstar better than the tighter circuits of Caulfield or Moonee Valley, where he’s already proven himself at the top level.

“I’m definitely confident—a bigger track, the race looks like it will set up well for him, and he’ll get his chance,’’ Brown said. “He’s drawn a bit wider, which probably suits his racing style at the sprint trips. It gives him more of a chance to balance up. I’ll keep it simple. He gets back in his sprint races, so you can’t reinvent him. He comes from a different form line, but I’m certain he can measure up to this Group 1. His rating off his first-up win was through the roof, so if he can replicate that, he’s a serious player.”

It won’t be an easy race by any stretch; this year’s TJ Smith Stakes is one of the deepest in recent memory, featuring an elite field that includes the brilliant Joliestar (Zoustar), fresh off her win in the G1 Newmarket Handicap, the ever-dangerous Sunshine In Paris (Invader), who is overdue for a change of luck, and the promising Briasa (Smart Missile), who impressed first-up in the G1 Galaxy Handicap.

Magic Time (Hellbent) arrives in top form, while the 3-year-old colt Snitzerland (Snitzel), with Ryan Moore booked, also adds serious intrigue.

Farnan youngsters to the fore in the Kindergarten

Farnan has made a serious impact with his first crop of runners, already producing seven individual winners—including two stakes winners and another two Group-placed performers.

A Champion 2YO Colt himself who was victorious in the G1 Golden Slipper, Farnan has clearly stamped his natural speed and precocity on his progeny. Currently sitting third on the first season sires table, he has the chance to climb even higher after Saturday’s G3 Kindergarten Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Two of his most exciting sons, North England and King Of Pop, head the market for the Kindergarten and look tough to beat. Both colts come through the elite 2-year-old form race, the Golden Slipper, with connections electing to stay at the six furlong trip rather than step up to the Sires' Produce Stakes over 1400 metres.

North England is chasing his first Group success, while King Of Pop is looking to build on an already strong resume after taking out the G3 Black Opal Stakes.

Gallery: Farnan's sons that head to the G3 Kindergarten Stakes on Saturday

It shapes as a competitive edition of this race, with these two promising colts rightfully heading the market. However, the depth of the race means they won’t have it all their own way.

The talented Stormland (NZ), by another first-season sire in Hello Youmzain (Fr), made a strong impression when winning on debut at Kensington. The unbeaten Beskar (Snitzel) makes the trip from Victoria for Anthony and Sam Freedman, while Bjorn Baker's Strada Varenna (Street Boss {USA}) brings strong form from the G3 Magic Night Stakes into this event.

With high-class juveniles clashing from a variety of form lines, the Kindergarten Stakes promises to be an intriguing contest—and another chance for Farnan’s progeny to shine on the big stage.