‘We have to fight hard to get what we can’: Marc Conners’ Willaidow and Allan Kehoe’s Shaggy serve it up to behemoths

One was an unwanted yearling who overcame a leg fracture, the other a modestly-bred gelding who with a far too amorous attitude. But Willaidow and Shaggy are proof everyone has a chance in racing.

Trainer Marc Conners (top left) will saddle up stable star Willaidow (top right) at Royal Randwick this weekend, while Allan Kehoe (left of bottom right picture) has a live Golden Slipper chance in the unbeaten Shaggy (bottom left).

Willaidow was unwanted as a yearling, wasn’t even broken in when purchased for a paltry $7000, had to overcome a leg fracture, and was once so slow it looked like he would never make it as a racehorse.

But the sprinter with the habit of defying logic has developed a ferocious will-to-win that has him chasing another big-race win in the Group 3 $250,000 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

It’s remarkable to think where Willaidow – and the two-year-old Shaggy – have come from to share racing’s main stage with some of the biggest names in the sport as Group 1 racing returns to Sydney.

Superstars Via Sistina, Fangirl and Ceolwulf clash in a stellar Group 1 showdown for the $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m).

The stacked support card includes a rematch between Lady Shenandoah and Lady Of Camelot in the Group 1 $750,000 Surround Stakes.

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Then, there’s Willaidow and Shaggy. Both sprinters don’t have the reputations or race records of their high profile peers but they are proof everyone has a chance in this sport.

Willaidow and Shaggy are far from equine bluebloods, both were once reluctant racehorses, and in this era of mega-sized stables, their trainers only have 20 horses in work each.

Racing is full of rags-to-riches stories where horses come from humble beginnings and capture the imagination of punters and fans. Willaidow and Shaggy are well on their way to adding two more compelling chapters to that tome.

In fact, they are both favourites to win in early TAB Fixed Odds betting this Saturday – Willaidow is at $3.50 for the Liverpool City Cup and Shaggy is the $3 top pick for the Group 2 $300,000 Skyline Stakes (1200m).

Marc Conners, trainer of Willaidow, conceded his gelding’s emergence as a talented sprinter has been a “pleasant and unexpected surprise’’.

Because it’s fair to say nothing about Willaidow’s entry into racing has been conventional.

Conners revealed he was studying a Magic Millions online dispersal sale catalogue when he came across a gelding by Shamus Award that took his eye.

Willaidow digs deep to win the Southern Cross Stakes in a photo! 📸 @[e-mail]/XRZd4oFPcj

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 1, 2025

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“Willaidow was an untried three-year-old who had never been broken in, no one had been near him,’’ Conners said.

“But he was by Shamus Award, so he had a bit of pedigree, and only cost me $7000.

“For a stable of our size, in Sydney it is so hard to get a good horse. The big stables have the firepower to buy those expensive horses.

“So, we have to pick and choose carefully and fight hard to get what we can.’’

Conners conceded he didn’t have any great expectations when his new equine recruit arrived at the trainer’s Warwick Farm stables.

“Early on, he was pretty slow,’’ Conners said.

“I know it is a cliche but he has been a work in progress. At his first start, the jockey almost pulled him up, he got beaten nearly a furlong (a200m).’’

Willaidow began to show some signs of improvement and won his maiden at his fifth start. He then scored again at Nowra next start only for a near-disaster to strike.

The gelding broke a cannon bone and needed surgery, with three pins were inserted to stabilise the leg fracture. Understandably, the gelding’s racing future was in some doubt.

“There have been times when we could have easily given up on him, that’s for sure,’’ Conners admitted.

But Conners was buoyed by expert veterinary advice that said Willaidow would make a complete recovery and be able to race again even with the pins in his leg.

Hear from @ConnersMarc following Willaidow's tough win in the Southern Cross Stakes 🏇 pic.twitter.com/dDpseuK9wG

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 1, 2025

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The trainer also sensed Willaidow had some latent ability so he persevered when others probably would have moved the gelding on.

Nearly two years after the Nowra incident, Willaidow has improved his race record to eight wins from 17 starts, earning nearly $600,000 prizemoney.

Willaidow is on a three-race winning streak and broke through at stakes level last start claiming the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes.

At Royal Randwick on Saturday, Willaidow can continue his winning momentum in the Group 3 $250,000 Liverpool City Cup (1300m).

Willaidow has become renowned for his fierce determination to win as he demonstrated last start when he held off his chasing rivals in a thrilling finish.

“It’s a great trait to have in a horse,’’ Conners said.

“He goes out there on raceday and just finds another gear. He wants to keep fighting, the closer they get to him the harder he tries.

“When they want to win like he does, that is something you can’t train or breed into them. Either they have got it or they haven’t.’’

Willaidow holds off his rivals at Royal Randwick last October. Picture: Bradley Photos

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Conners, a third generation horseman, also deserves credit for patiently nurturing Williadow into a serious racehorse.

But the trainer said Willaidow has improved since his first-up win although he revealed the gelding has always been “hard to get a line on” because he’s a notoriously lazy trackworker.

“There were times last preparation when we worked Willaidow with a couple of maidens and he could barely stay with them,’’ Conners said.

“The maidens worked really well so we backed them next start and they never got sighted.

“But we have a routine that works with Willaidow now so there is no need to change anything.

“He’s done well since he won at Randwick first-up and it’s all systems go for Saturday.’’

Conners revealed his ambition to get Willaidow into the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on April 5.

“We will get through Saturday first but the plan is to go to the Ajax Stakes next and if he can win that he will get into the Doncaster Mile,’’ the trainer said.

“It’s nice to have a horse good enough to aim at these better races.’’

Willaidow’s remarkable rags-to-riches story is proof the dream is alive in racing.

Stories like his making this sport so intoxicating because you just never know where that next good horse is going to come from.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

All in the name for amorous Shaggy

Jockey Adam Hyeronimus brings Shaggy back to scale following his Pierro Plate win at Royal Randwick on February 15. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Shaggy’s unusual name, amorous nature, and sheer speed is earning the two-year-old a cult-like following.

The brilliant youngster has suddenly emerged as an unexpected Golden Slipper contender after three easy wins and his preparation for Saturday’s crucial Group 2 $300,000 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick has been faultless – well almost!

Trainer Allan Kehoe rides Shaggy in most of his trackwork but hasn’t been in the saddle for over a week after being injured in a Wyong trackwork incident.

“I had a bad fall last Wednesday,’’ Kehoe said.

“One came down on top of me, broke my thumb and kicked me in the head. I needed an operation on my hand and thumb.

“I got out of it alright but there’s plenty of bruising, it looks like I have been in the wars.’’

Shaggy’s trainer Allan Kehoe. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

Fortunately for Kehoe, he has no shortage of experienced jockeys to ride Shaggy trackwork, with Aaron Bullock and Anna Roper stepping in when needed.

Kehoe said Shaggy continued to thrive ahead of the Skyline Stakes in which a good showing will almost certainly earn the young sprinter a start in the $5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 22.

Shaggy, unbeaten in three starts including his brilliant effort to win the Pierro Plate last start, is doing so well between races he has actually put on weight, Kehoe revealed.

“After his Randwick win, he had an easy week of swimming and a few days out on the farm,’’ Kehoe said.

“He’s happy and bright, and he’s come through his run really well. To tell you the truth, I think he probably looks a bit better going into this race.

“The horse has put on 4kg since his last run – and he put on 8kg before the Randwick win – so he’s really enjoying his racing and training.’’

Zoinks! Shaggy leads all the way to win the Pierro Plate and races into TAB Golden Slipper contention for Allan Kehoe!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/a233Smg15g

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 15, 2025

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Shaggy, who was once too “colty’’ to be a racehorse, has become a genuine Golden Slipper contender since part-owner Kehoe made the decision to have the young sprinter gelded.

As Kehoe told the media after the Pierro Plate earlier this month, Shaggy had other things on his mind when he first put the horse into training.

“As a colt, he wanted to ‘s..g’ everything,’’ Kehoe said.

Gelding a racehorse is not the panacea for every equine problem but there are many examples of how this procedure can make a racehorse.

Perhaps the most famous case is the legendary champion Kingston Town. At his two-year-old debut at a Canterbury midweek meeting back in 1979, he ran a long last, beaten more than 100m and was then gelded.

Kingston Town returned a complete racehorse, winning 30 of his next 40 starts from 1200m to 3200m including 14 wins at Group 1 level and became the nation’s first million dollar stakes winner.

It is doubtful Shaggy will ever have a record to match “The King” but he’s made an impressive start to his racetrack career.

In fact, Shaggy has been so good it has forced Kehoe to change his autumn carnivals.

"We all dream of winning a Golden Slipper, so we'll head that way at the moment," - Allan Kehoe.

The Wyong-based trainer spoke to @SkyRacingAU Greg Radley after Shaggy made a mess of them in the Coolmore Pierro Plate at Royal [e-mail]/ahdJuRdLGN

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) February 15, 2025

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Kehoe, 41, initially had a more modest goal for Shaggy, the Wellington Boot, but now he has his sights set on the world’s richest two-year-old race, the Golden Slipper.

Shaggy’s burst of form has also attracted a number of huge offers from international buyers although everything has its price, Kehoe has said his two-year-old is not for sale.

The trainer’s phone has hardly stopped ringing since the Pierro Plate with the media wanting to know more about his stable star.

After working in the racing industry for nearly three decades, the media interest is foreign for the trainer but, just like Shaggy on the racetrack, Kehoe is taking it all in his stride.

“The media is something a little bit different for us and you never know what it might lead to,’’ Kehoe said.

“But we just want to get through this week and enjoy the ride.’’

Shaggy is from the first crop and the first winner sired by Kooringal Stud stallion Sandbar, himself a dual stakeswinner who ran in the 2018 Golden Slipper, finishing eighth behind Estijaab.

"He's got everything that a 2YO needs"

Here’s what Adam Hyeronimus said after Shaggy’s impressive win at Randwick earlier today!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/TakNs1shUN

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 15, 2025

Kooringal Stud shares the ownership of Shaggy with Kehoe and although their two-year-old is not nominated for the Golden Slipper, connections are prepared to pay the $150,000 late entry fee if he performs up to expectations in the Skyline Stakes.

“We have the late nomination all sorted if he goes well this week,’’ Kehoe revealed.

“If he can run a good race, win or finish top three, and pulls up well, we will aim at the Slipper and then give him a good rest.’’

Kehoe is confident Shaggy will prove he is worthy of a Golden Slipper start on Saturday.

“Nothing has changed with Shaggy’s attitude, he’s a very happy horse,’’ he said

“I don’t think Saturday’s race looks any tougher than the other day. If he turns up I think they will know he is in it.’’

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Racing’s great rags to riches tales

PHAR LAP

Phar Lap cost only 160 guineas as a yearling in 1928 but owner David Davis took an instant dislike to him and agreed to lease the ungainly gelding to trainer Harry Telford for three years.

After winning one of his first 10 starts, Phar Lap won 36 of his next 41 starts including the 1930 Melbourne Cup before going overseas to win the 1932 Agua Caliente Handicap in America. He mysteriously died three weeks after that win but is remembered as one of the all-time great racehorses.

Major wins: Agua Caliente Handicap (1932), Cox Plate (1930-31), Melbourne Cup (1930), ATC Derby (1929), Victoria Derby (1929)

Undated. Racehorse 'Phar Lap' with jockey Jim Pike. Racing.

MANIKATO

The great Manikato was purchased for $3500 as a yearling and was the only foal out of dam Markato’s eight named foals to win a stakes race.

Manikato earned Hall of Fame status with 29 wins from 47 starts, and became only the second horse to pass $1 million earnings.

Major wins: Four Futurity Stakes (1979-80-81-83), five William Reid Stakes (1979-80-81-82-83), Golden Slipper (1978), Blue Diamond (1978), Caulfield Guineas (1978).

Manikato, with Gary Willetts on board, wins the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield.

KINGSTON TOWN

An inaugural Hall of Famer, Kingston Town was unwanted as a yearling and didn’t reach his reserve of $8000. Breeder David Hains kept Kingston Town to race only to watch the horse run a long last at his debut.

Kingston Town was then gelded and returned to win 30 of his next 40 starts including three Cox Plates (1980-81-82) and was the first horse to smash the $1 million prizemoney barrier.

Major wins: Cox Plate (1980-81-82), Caulfield Stakes (1981-82), George Main Stakes (1981-82), AJC Derby (1980), Tancred Stakes (1980), Sydney Cup (1980).

Kingston Town wins the 1981 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

VO ROGUE

Vo Rogue was another unwanted yearling, being knocked down for just $3000 but he developed into an exciting front-runner who earned more than $3 million prizemoney.

Trained by Vic Rail, Vo Rogue contested 83 races, winning 26 times including six at Group 1 level and defeated the best horses of his era including the likes of Super Impose and Better Loosen Up.

Major wins: Australian Cup (1988-89), Futurity Stakes (1988), George Main Stakes (1989).

Trainer Vic Rail with his champion Vo Rogue.

TAKEOVER TARGET

Joe Janiak, the Queanbeyan taxi driver and part-time trainer, purchased an unraced four-year-old gelding named Takeover Target for just $1250.

Takeover Target won 21 of his 41 starts, earning more than $6 million prizemoney and won eight Group 1 races and proved himself on racing’s international stage.

Major wins: 2009 TJ Smith Stakes (2009), Singapore International Sprint (2008), Japan Sprinters Stakes (2006), King’s Stand Stakes (2006), Newmarket Handicap (2006).

Trainer and former taxi driver Joe Janiak with Takeover Target, the horse that took him around the world.

VERRY ELLEEGANT

Verry Elleegant was bred by part-owner Don Goodwin who sent his broodmare, Opulence, to be served by renowned jumps sire Zed for a $500 service fee.

The product of that mating was Verry Elleegant, winner of 16 of her 40 starts and $14,882,524.

Major wins: Melbourne Cup (2021), Caulfield Cup (2020), Tancred Stakes (2020), ATC Australian Oaks (2019).

Originally published as ‘We have to fight hard to get what we can’: Marc Conners’ Willaidow and Allan Kehoe’s Shaggy serve it up to behemoths