He’s nothing flash to look at and cost just $7,000 as an unbroken three year-old in a Magic Millions Online Sale, but the Marc Conners trained Shamus Award gelding Willaidow has the most important thing of all and that’s the will to win and he showed it at Rosehill on Saturday when taking out the $250,000 Group III ATC Southern Cross Stakes (1200m).
The six year-old was having his first run back from a spell after making rapid progress throughhis grades last year culminating with a pair of Benchmark 88 wins in September and October.
Tuned up with two recent trials, Willaidow was ridden a stalking race by Tyler Schiller and after putting paid to the leader Hard to Say was tenacious when challenged and held on to win by a long head over Iowna Merc.
Will
aidow has had eight wins and three placings from 17 starts earning in excess of $580,000, an amazing result for a horse that was sidelined for a period due to a serious leg injury that required surgery to insert three pins into his leg which are still there.
Conners was thrilled to have a stakes win on the board for Willaidow and will look to plot a possible oath to the Group I ATC Doncaster Mile.
"He is a terrible trackworker, he just falls in in his trials, he sweats up bad before a race, walks around like a crab, but he goes out there on race day and finds another gear,'' Conners said.
"He wants a fight, the closer they get to him the harder he tries.
"I was looking for the post the 100m and Iowna Merc got pretty close to him but he dug deep.
"I would love to get him to a Doncaster. I just think with a lightweight, sitting outside the leader, he would take some running down.
"But there is no plan, we have plenty of options for him as there is a race for him every two or three weeks.
"We will take our time, pick our races off and try to keep him winning.''
Tyler Schiller was full of praise for Willaidow.
Willaidow was bred by Serene Lodge and is the first foal and only winner from unplaced Casino Prince mare Stimulated, that was sold in the same year as Willaidow and made just $1,250 on Inglis Digital when bought by SC Bloodstock. A grand-daughter of Group II winner Excited Angel, she was covered again last spring by Shamus Award.
She has an unraced two year-old filly by Rich Enuff called Enuff Champagne and a yearling colt by Royal Meeting (IRE).
Willaidow is the 26th stakes-winner for Shamus Award, who stands at Rosemont Stud and has 23 entries for Inglis Premier.
