Family pride at stake for trainer Marc Conners when he saddles up Willaidow in 2025 Liverpool City Cup at Royal Randwick
As he finalises a training partnership with his son, Mitchell, Warwick Farm trainer Marc Conners admits it is about time his family won a Liverpool City Cup.
Marc Conners, who is about to form a training partnership with his son, Mitchell, admits it is about time his family won a Liverpool City Cup.
“Funny thing, this is a race my family has never won, even when it was run at Warwick Farm,’’ Conners said.
Even his father, Hall of Fame trainer Clarry Conners hasn’t been able to win the race, although he came close in 1980 when Robrick Star ran second to Le De’Jeuner.
But the Marc Conners-trained Willaidow has the chance to finally put the family name on the race’s honour roll when he contests the Group 3 $250,000 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Willaidow goes into the Liverpool City Cup after winning the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes last start, his third win in succession.
Marc Conners has another compelling reason for his family to win the feature spring.
“It would be good to win this race as my father-in-law, Peter Harle is on the Liverpool City Council,’’ Conners revealed.’
Harle has served as a councillor since at Liverpool City Council since 2008 and was elected Deputy Major last year.
The Liverpool City Cup was first run in 1970 and had been held mainly at Warwick Farm until 2016 when it was switched to Royal Randwick.
Willaidow digs deep to win the Southern Cross Stakes in a photo! 📸 @G1TySchil@ConnersMarcpic.twitter.com/XRZd4oFPcj
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 1, 2025
• Battlers Marc Conners and Allan Kehoe serve it up to the behemoths
There are many who believe Saturday’s race meeting should be moved back to Warwick Farm although the Australian Turf Club will argue betting turnover is generally superior at Royal Randwick.
No doubt, Marc Conners would prefer an opportunity to utilise home track advantage at Warwick Farm where his family has trained for three generations but he has Willaidow primed for Randwick on Saturday.
Conners also revealed a fourth generation member of his family would soon be training at the southwestern Sydney racetrack.
Hear from @ConnersMarc following Willaidow's tough win in the Southern Cross Stakes 🇠pic.twitter.com/dDpseuK9wG
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 1, 2025
• Clinton Payne’s Verry Elleegant Stakes runner-by-runner form assessment, tips
“My son, Mitchell and I, have made an application to form a training partnership,’’ Conners said.
“It will take a few months to go through and I would say we will kick off at the start of the new season.
“I tried to talk Mitchell out of it but he didn’t listen. He loves it, loves working with horses.
“Training is a hard profession but it can be very rewarding and satisfying.’’
‘Not making up numbers’: Guru primed for Guineas test
VRC Derby winner Goldrush Guru has proven his class over 2500m, but a sharper Group 1 challenge over a mile awaits in Saturday’s Australian Guineas.
Randwick Inside Mail: Lees’ gun 2yo to banish Slipper sorrow
His father won the Slipper by seven lengths with Luskin Star, but Kris Lees’ only runner in the race finished dead last. That memory could be banished this year if Rivellino continues his unbeaten run in Saturday’s Skyline Stakes.