Marc Conners to focus on Doncaster Prelude with stable star Willaidow

The Prelude winner gets entry into the Doncaster Mile but trainer Marc Conners says that’s not the focus for his stable weapon.

Willaidow (inside) finished runner up to Iowna Merc last start. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images.

Trainer Marc Conners will likely resist any temptation to back-up Willaidow in Saturday’s $4 million Doncaster Mile even if his stable star is successful at Tuesday’s rescheduled Group 1 meeting at Rosehill Gardens.

Willaidow is the horse to beat in the Group 3 $250,000 Doncaster Prelude (1500m) and would snare ballot exemption into this weekend’s main event at Royal Randwick with victory this weekend.

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The release of the Doncaster Mile field has been delayed to shortly after the running of the Doncaster Prelude following the move of last Saturday’s Group 1 Tancred Stakes meeting to the midweek timeslot.

The barrier draw for the Doncaster Mile will now take place on course after Tuesday’s rescheduled card.

“He won’t be backing up on the Saturday,” Conners said.

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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“We probably wouldn’t have backed him up if he had won if the race was on Saturday either, that wasn’t really our plan.

“We will get through Tuesday and then see where we will head but it was going to be very unlikely that we’d head to a Doncaster.”

A wet track is no concern to Willaidow’s chances of securing a second stakes victory for his preparation.

The son of Shamus Award snared a first-up win in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes before coming up short in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup.

But Willaidow was back to his best last start when he was only narrowly beaten by Iowna Merc in the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m).

Iowna Merc continues its outstanding form by claiming the Group 2 @HylandSW Ajax Stakes 🔥🔥

That's consecutive Group wins for @[e-mail]/G9x31t6amN

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

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“He was just too soft the start before and we tightened the screws a little bit more,” Conners said.

“He went into that run a lot better and he performed like we thought he would.

“I think he is come on a bit more again so the horse is in great shape and we are really happy with him.

“The track might improve a little bit but I wouldn’t expect it will be better than a soft 7.”

Willaidow is the $5 Doncaster Prelude favourite. No horse has achieved the Prelude-Doncaster Mile double.