Conners’ trio ready for battle

Posted by RS NewsWire at 4:55pm on January 26th

Fresh from producing Willaidow for a strong victory at Rosehill last weekend, Marc Conners will take a trio of runners to Randwick, hopeful of continuing the stable’s Saturday metropolitan success.

It will be Conners’ largest representation for some time and he says his three runners – Rebel Rama, Danish Prince and Winning Verse – are all going well and capable of surprising.

“They’re probably a bit wider in the market than Willaidow was, but in saying that they’re all horses that are in the right races and there to do something on Saturday,” Conners said.

Conners’ originally had a squad of four to take to Randwick but has scratched two-year-old Shezasiren from the opening race.

Rebel Rama drops back to benchmark grade after finishing midfield in the Listed January Cup, won in track record time by Naval College.

While she excels on rain-affected ground, which she won’t get on Saturday, Conners is happy she is in a good space.

His only reservation is another wide draw in barrier 10.

“The race last start, they don’t run that fast,” Conners said.

“I’m sure it upset a lot of the horses and I don’t think she ran badly. She finished seventh and she didn’t drop off, she held her ground, so I was happy enough with her run.

“She drops back to a benchmark 88 now, which is probably where she needs to be at the moment.

“I just wish she’s drawn a barrier. We keep drawing bad barriers and that forces us to go back so we’ll have to decide what we do Saturday.”

Danish Prince contests the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1200m) after resuming with a tough effort from a wide gate at Rosehill and he has only missed a top-three finish once in five second-up runs.

But it is the stable’s final runner, Winning Verse, who Conners regards as his leading chance after a fighting first-up effort at Rosehill.

“It was the first time we’d run her over 1200-metres first-up, they ran pretty fast time and at the 75-metre mark she was still in front,” Conners said.

“With that solid run under her belt, she is going to improve lengths.”

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th