Clotworthy team to target Queensland with Malt Time

A trip across the Tasman is on the cards for Group 1 performer if she performs up to expectations in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 1300 at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The seven-year-old daughter of has been a for trainers Shaun and Emma Clotworthy this season, finishing runner-up in the Group 1 Plate (1600m) last September behind before placing in the Group 2 Auckland (1400m) and Group 1 TAB Classic (1600m).

She has had a spell since her unplaced run in February’s Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa and will return to the Hamilton track this weekend to ready for a Queensland campaign.

“She had a good preparation last time, we will give her a couple of runs this time in and hopefully she can show good form again,” said.

“She went out for four or five weeks and has been back in for a couple of months.

“She worked up nicely during the week and we have been pleased with her since she has come back. She is in good order.”

Malt Time ran fourth in her 1000m trial at Avondale last week, giving Clotworthy plenty of confidence ahead of her weekend assignment.

“I thought it was a good trial, we ran her quietly and she got home and hit the line well,” he said.

Queensland is firmly in the crosshairs, with the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm next month a potential target.

“She has got a bit of improvement in her and we are thinking of possibly heading to Queensland if she went well this weekend,” Clotworthy said.

“There are a couple of races for her that are a little later on in the carnival, we haven’t confirmed anything yet. She does hold a nomination for the Stradbroke, but we will wait and see what happens.”

Malt Time could be joined on the trip by stablemate Espadas, a three-year-old son of that has shown a lot of promise in his two starts to date, placing on debut at in March before winning his maiden at a month later.

“We are looking at maybe Espadas (heading to Queensland as well), they have had a bit of a freshen-up so he might join her, but we are undecided at this stage,” Clotworthy said.

Meanwhile, Malt Time will be joined on the float trip to Te Rapa on Saturday by stablemate Mitonic, a last start placegetter who will contest the Greene Racing Mile (1600m).

“He is in the same ownership as Malt Time,” Clotworthy said.

“He is not far away from getting a win, he is going to be competitive again.”

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