Willaidow in milestone win for Conners family in 2026 JRA Plate

Willaidow delivered a landmark success for Marc and Mitchell Conners by becoming a rare dual winner of the JRA Plate at Rosehill.

The result added another chapter to the Conners family history, with Marc the son of four-time Golden Slipper winning trainer Clarry Conners and grandson of Clarry Conners Snr.

Although Mitchell Conners was at Newcastle supervising another runner, Marc said the win carried enormous meaning for their partnership.

“For a small stable like ours, it’s a lot of work. We have to put in a lot of hours,” Marc Conners said.

“These are the wins that are pretty special for us.”

Marc said Mitchell had earned his place alongside him in the training ranks.

“He has put the hard yards in. He has done a lot of work,” he said.

“He is driving home from Newcastle today, he got beaten up there, so this will cheer him up.

“It’s a proud moment for me to have him down beside me. He will remember that for a long time.”

Willaidow ($4.60) backed up his success from 12 months earlier when the race was known as the Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).

After being held up approaching the straight, James McDonald guided Willaidow into clear air where the gelding dug deep to defeat The Instructor ($6.50) by a short head, with Zarastro ($9.50) finishing third.

The seven-year-old has now banked more than $720,000 from nine wins and has been a cornerstone of the stable for several seasons.

“He is a $7000 horse and look what he’s done,” Conners said.

“He fractured his cannon bone after his third win, and he’s come back and done what he’s done. For a stable like us, they are dream horses. They’re the backbone. They pay the bills.”

Those assessing racing betting markets will note Willaidow’s consistency after his second JRA Plate success as carnival options are considered.

The post Willaidow in milestone win for Conners family first appeared on Just Horse Racing.