Group One performer Malt Time (Adelaide) will head to the races for the final time this weekend before transitioning to her next career as a broodmare.
The eight-year-old daughter of Adelaide has been a consistent performer for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, winning five of her 39 starts, including the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m). She was also placed on 10 occasions, including the Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m), Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (2040m), Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m), Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) twice, Listed Tauranga Classic (1400m), and has accrued more than $500,000 in prizemoney.
Bred by Nearco Stud, Malt Time has been raced by Bill and Carrie Borrie, and will look to bow out a winner for the couple when she heads to Matamata on Saturday to contest the $350,000 COMAG Wairere Falls Classic (1500m).
Malt Time will back-up from her eighth placed run in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Otaki- Maori WFA Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie, and Shaun Clotworthy said she has bounced through that run well.
“She has come through it well. She will back up for her final race on Saturday. It’s a great stake and we are keen to get her there,” he said.
“She has been very consistent, has tried her heart out, and has been a little unlucky not to have won a Group One.
“She is still competitive but is starting to get on a bit in years and is in-foal to Hello Youmzain.”
Meanwhile, Clotworthy said $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) favourite Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino) has pulled up well following his 10th placed run in Saturday’s Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m), and said a veterinary examination found nothing untoward following the subpar result.
“It is a bit hard to get a line on it with the way the race was run. We have put a line through it and are carrying on as we were planning to,” Clotworthy said.
“He seems to have come through it well, we are happy enough with him. We got him vetted yesterday and he seems nice and happy. He has had a bit of work in the pool and had a trot and canter this morning and all looks okay.”
While Clotworthy has a leading chance in next week’s Derby, he will have another leading contender to barrack for in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) in the form of Dealt With (NZ) (Ace High).
The Roger James and Robert-Wellwood-trained gelding will represent the Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing slot in the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, and takes a strong form line into the race.
Victorious in his first two outings, the son of Ace High was third in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) last month before finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m), and Clotworthy is excited about his prospects.
“He looks like he has got a bit of improvement from him, according to Robert and Roger, and the slot team are very pleased with him,” he said.
“It (Champions Day) is going to be the biggest day ever in New Zealand’s racing history, so to have a couple of chances is pretty incredible.”
