Shaun and Emma Clotworthy will plot a path towards the $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) with their promising three-year-old Interplanetary, who put his staying prowess on display at Te Aroha on Sunday.
A son of Time Test, Interplanetary finished fourth in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) as a juvenile and had been building into favourable distances this campaign, culminating in a narrow second behind Sweet But Psycho at the course on November 27.
Returning to Te Aroha, the colt started a $2.20 favourite under Craig Grylls in the Bayleys Country 2200, easing back early to find the rail in the back-half of the field. The pressure came on at the 600m and Interplanetary was near-last turning for home, but Grylls hugged the rail and set out after Geetee Forty, who he caught with plenty left in store to win by 1 – ½ lengths.
"He did it nicely, it wasn't an overly strong field, but the manner in which he finished the race off made us happy," Shaun Clotworthy said.
"He's an out and out stayer, his goal is to head towards the Derby and he'll eat up the 2400m no problem. He's a good tough horse, and being a colt, he eats up and thrives on work. We're happy with him staying as a colt at the moment.
"He'll probably go to the paddock and have a break for a couple of weeks and we'll map a plan through some of the Guineas races and into the Derby."
A $60,000 purchase by co-owner Leighton Howl at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales, Interplanetary is out of a Galileo mare Sirani, who won on three occasions over ground.
On Saturday at Ellerslie, the Clotworthy's stable star Malt Time lost no admirers with a solid performance in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (1200m), finishing less than two lengths off Babylon Berlin in fifth.
"That's what we expected from her and she was good," Clotworthy said. "It was basically a Group One sprinting field and she didn't disgrace herself, she wasn't far off them.
"We were using that as a bit of a trial for her next race, so we're happy with that."
Already a seven-race winner and multiple-Group One placegetter, Malt Time will be looking to add another feature victory to her record in her final racing preparation, having scanned in foal in Cambridge Stud's young sire Hello Youmzain.
The daughter of Adelaide holds an early nomination for the Gr.1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile (1600m) on January 11, but she may be saved for a tilt at the $600,000 fillies and mares feature on Karaka Millions Night.
"She'll probably go to Ellerslie on Boxing Day first, then on to the Thorndon Mile or Westbury Classic (Gr.2, 1400m), we're not quite sure yet," Clotworthy said.
"It was always the plan (to get her in foal this year), Bill and Carrie (Borrie, owners) sent her to Hello Youmzain and she's positive. I think she can race through to mid-March, so we'll take it race-by-race and see how she goes in the next couple."
