Shaun and Emma Clotworthy are hoping a couple of their runners can bounce back from subpar showings at Ellerslie on Boxing Day when they return to the Auckland track on New Year’s Day.

Six-year-old gelding Aftermath has been a model of consistency for most of his preparation, posting a series of fourth placings, including in the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) and Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m), before securing black-type when third in last month’s Gr.3 Counties Cup (2100m).

Injury ruled him out of the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) earlier this month, but he resumed in the Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day where he beat just the one runner home in the nine-horse field.

His trainers have been pleased with the way he has come through the race and they are looking forward to getting him back to handicap conditions on Thursday in the Gr.3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m), where he will carry 53kg.

“He had a little bit of an issue, a slight muscle twinge, before the Waikato Cup so he missed a bit of work,” Shaun Clotworthy said.

“It (Zabeel Classic) was a very strange run race. If you took into account he finished just under three-lengths away from El Vencedor and Waitak, it wasn’t too bad under weight-for-age conditions.

“I wasn’t totally disappointed in his run. He has been at the beach after the race and he had an easy bit of work yesterday (Monday) and he seems nice and bright.

“I expect him to improve and obviously under handicap conditions he is a lot better.”

Aftermath has drawn barrier 10 and will be ridden by Joe Doyle.

“Joe can just see how he jumps and get him across,” Clotworthy said. “He did relax the other day, even off that slow pace, which I was pleased with. He can get in a habit of going quite fierce. Hopefully he can get him into a nice rhythm.”

Stablemate Pulsatilla will also be looking to bounce back to form when she contests the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m).

The three-year-old daughter of Redwood won the Listed Trevor & Coralie Eagle Memorial 3YO (1500m) impressively last month before disappointing when seventh in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day.

The filly has been mixing her form, and Clotworthy is hoping the step up to 2000m can help her return to her winning ways.

“She was a touch disappointing in the Eight Carat,” he said. “She looked like she was going to come into the race and then she battled on a bit. She may just be looking for the 2000m already.”

On the undercard, the stable will also be represented by Espadas in the TAB 1200 and Jack Crabb in the Horizon by SkyCity 1600.

“It was disappointing on Boxing Day having to late scratch (Espadas) after pulling his shoe off. He is a big, strong horse and a good galloper. He has drawn the outside (13), but he will still start and we are happy with him. He is a good animal on his day.

“Jack Crabb has drawn a nice barrier (1) and has blinkers on for the first time. His work was good the other morning, it is a good stake and he will take his place, he is there to win.”

Meanwhile, Clotworthy said he and his fellow $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot holder syndicate members are still in search of their representative ahead of the March feature.

“We are still looking,” he said. “We haven’t secured anything yet but we have got a couple of irons in the fire, so we will just see what happens over this next week of racing. There is still a bit of time, so we are not in a panic yet.

“The first year was great and it has been a great experience and all of our crew have really enjoyed it. It is just trying to find the right horse.”