Conners sees missing spark back for Willaidow in hunt for dream win

Whether it’s nature, nurture or just pure passion for racing, Mitchell Conners looks to have all the bases covered when it comes to building a career as a trainer.

A fourth-generation horseman, Mitchell joined his father, group 1-winning Warwick Farm conditioner Marc, in a partnership last October.

Mitchell Conners leads back Willaidow after a Midway Handicap win at Rosehill in January 2024.Credit: Getty Images

Mitchell’s grandfather, Clarry, a Hall of Fame trainer and four-time Golden Slipper winner, is never far away as well, still preparing horses under his own name but with help from his family.

“I’ve got good breeding anyway, if I was at a yearling sale, I’d like to think I’d bring a fair bit of money,” Mitchell quipped about his family’s rich training heritage.

“He doesn’t miss a morning or afternoon,” he said of Clarry.

“Racing is his life and that hard work ethic is bred into our family ... you’re lucky to get an afternoon away from him.

“He’s in the same stable as us now and we help him out. We are kind of half working together and it’s good to have the whole family together anyway.”

The 25-year-old, though, has not relied on just his family’s good name, and lessons.

He began working in his father’s stable at age 12 and later rode track work. He studied equine management at Marcus Oldham College before working for champion trainers home and abroad. He had stints with Andrew Balding in England, Francis-Henri Graffard in France, and the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott and Ciaron Maher-David Eustace stables at home.

However, the goal throughout was to partner with his dad, and the excitement in his voice about reaching that point is still strong three months later.

“It’s been a dream come true and a bit surreal sometimes,” he said.

“I’ve had to pinch myself sometimes that it’s my name there, but it definitely means a lot to be training with my dad.

“Obviously, I’ve looked up to him my whole life and wanted to be a trainer with him, so it’s been very exciting and we get along very well. Hopefully, the success follows.”

A first stakes win for the partnership on Saturday at Rosehill with Willaidow would be a huge boost to that end, and Mitchell was confident the seven-year-old could deliver.

Willaidow, a $7000 online buy which has overcome a broken leg to rake in $681,225 in earnings, was a $6 TAB chance for the group 3 JRA Plate (1200m) at Rosehill. Top jockey James McDonald is on board for the first-up run, which follows a let-up after three unplaced starts in the spring, including two in Melbourne.

James McDonald rides Willaidow to victory in the last race on Everest day at Randwick on October 19, 2024.Credit: Getty Images

Mitchell believed the signs were positive from Willaidow’s two trials back.

“I think he’s come back stronger and I think those Melbourne trips took a bit out of him, a bit of spark out of him,” Mitchell said.

“He’s a pretty sparky horse, as you’ll see in the mounting yard. He’ll be a lather of sweat and walking all crabby, but staying in Sydney and being first-up off how he’s been trialling, I think he’ll be a much better horse.

“We think we’ve got him in a good place mentally, which is a key thing with these older geldings.

“J-Mac has given us plenty of confidence, getting back on him.

“We’ll be positive, something would have to go pretty crazy for something to cross us. We think he’s in a good space to lead them up, and they’ve got to try to catch him.”

The Conners could also challenge in the Midway Handicap with Danish Prince ($15), which has also been accepted at Newcastle on Saturday, and Iceman ($10).

Marc and Mitchell-trained Danish Prince failed in a Midway at Randwick on December 27 but has won and finished second at Newcastle either side of that effort. Clarry-trained Iceman, a Midway winner last start at Randwick, resumes off two trials.

“He’s definitely come back this prep a bit brighter and fresher, but when he got to Randwick, he half bucked out of the barriers,” Mitchell said of Danish Prince.

“But he went back to Newcastle and ran a really good race in a race style that doesn’t suit him, with a tearaway leader, but we think he’s in a good space and galloping well at home.

“Obviously you’d like to win it under your name, but if you are going to get beat, you’d like it to be the horse you are working with. You’d like it to be by Clarry.

“Iceman is going really well. His trials have been really strong and he went out in good form.

“We’d have 20 in work, then Clarry’s as well, which pumps us up to about 30.

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