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By Ray Hickson

Mitchell Conners feels a bit of symbiosis with stable warhorse Danish Prince and he’d love it if the evergreen gelding can continue his form revival at Randwick on Saturday.

Mitchell Conners with Cape Byron, his first winner in partnership with father Marc (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The seven-year-old broke a run out of the winner’s stall of almost three years when he scored first-up a month ago, his first start since Conners went into a training partnership with his father Marc in October.

The 25-year-old fourth generation trainer fondly remembers Danish Prince walking into the stable and, while Mitchell went on to further his career before returning to train, the gelding has been a mainstay.

“I was just doing boxes when he first got here, I was just starting to ride when he came in as a yearling,’’ Conners said.

“We’ve gone through the system together. He’s been a very good warrior for the stable, a nice home bred that’s got a bit of ticker about him.

“It was good to see him win first-up, it was nearly three years going into that win.”

Naturally, Conners started out working in his father’s stable but after completing an equine management diploma at Marcus Oldham College he’s gathered experience working for Andrew Balding, Gai Waterhouse, and Ciaron Maher prior to returning to the Conners fold.

He said placement had a bit to do with Danish Prince’s all the way victory at Newcastle but it’s what he needed to get the confidence back with that winless stretch going back to the first week of January 2023.

In his last preparation the gelding was runner-up in a Midway over 1400m at his second run from a break and Conners feels a drier track is in his favour these days.

“Last prep he was a bit dour, it looked like he was asking for a bit further but nothing went right,’’ he said.

“We haven’t done much work with him, we’ve kept him fresh and happy and we were able to find an easier race first-up we were used to.

“And everything went right on the day. At this stage of his career the real heavy tracks take that bit out of him, he’s quite enjoying the harder tracks because it’s a bit easier on him.”

Anna Roper takes 2kg off Danish Prince’s back in the Midway and with a draw that Conners says will allow him to be ridden to his strengths he’d like to think he can maintain his form.

“He went into first-up with room to improve so he’s stepping up to the 1400m where he’s done his best racing and with a bit of confidence,’’ he said.

“If everything goes his way and he gets into a fight he’s hard to chase down.”

Youngster Scoish Maloish has made the field for the Spelling At Coolmore Mt White Handicap (1000m) though Conners said he may well make his debut at Canberra on Sunday.

The two-year-old gelding was a $600 online purchase and in his latest trial on December 8 he chased home last week’s impressive winner Warwoven.

“He hasn’t put a foot wrong, he’s very sound, he’s a big strong gelding doing everything right,’’ Conners said.

“He might find them a bit sharp over the shorter trips but his trial form has been strong and that gives us a bit more confidence.

“We probably didn’t expect that many acceptances going into Saturday so Canberra is probably looking a better option at this stage.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Randwick