Marc and Mitchell Conners have celebrated their first stakes win as training partners after Willaidow claimed back-to-back victories in the JRA Plate at Rosehill.
The result carried extra significance for the third and fourth generation trainers, continuing a proud family legacy.
Marc Conners is the son of four-time Golden Slipper-winning trainer Clarry Conners.
Mitchell was absent on the day, overseeing runners at Newcastle, leaving Marc to soak up the moment alone.
“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.”
Willaidow ($4.60) became the first horse in recent times to win the race in consecutive years, having scored last year when it was known as the Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).
Held up in the straight, the seven-year-old surged late under James McDonald to nab The Instructor by a short head, with Zarastro third.
“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.”