The racing silks of green with tartan braces previously used by former Brighton trainer Brian O'Connor made a return to the winner's circle with the win of Ronnoco at Ascot Park on Tuesday.
Ronnoco's victory was the first training success for O'Connor's cousin, Knapdale trainer Kathaleen O'Connor. She arranged to use Brian O'Connor's racing silks after he died in May last year. O'Connor dedicated Ronnoco's win to her cousin's memory.
''We're definitely dedicating that one [win] to Brian,'' she said.
Brian O'Connor trained from Brighton for 21 years and rose to fame with the winless streak of Kelly Evander, who was eventually retired after 160 starts in the maiden grade.
A frustrating run of fortunes had meant Ronnoco had gone winless since scoring at Forbury Park in May 2012.
''We've had no luck whatsoever,'' O'Connor said.
The Enrique gelding would be aimed at 1200m sprint races at Forbury Park in coming weeks. Ronnoco was suited to this distance after two starts for a second and a forth placing at the venue, O'Connor said.
O'Connor took out her training licence earlier this season after the Colin Baynes-Robin Swain training partnership was disbanded.
She worked for the training partners for more than 20 years. Swain has driven Ronnoco in all of his three wins.
O'Connor works a small team at the Knapdale training property she has recently set up.
She continued her association with Swain's stable by ''helping out when needed,'' she said.
Ascot Park also proved a happy hunting ground for Timaru trainer-driver Tracey Healy on Tuesday, when she saluted following Westmelton Willie's win in the c1-c2 trot.
It was Healy's first driving win since Lincoln Hanover at Forbury Park in October 1998, and her first training win since Lifesofine won in the hands of Colin De Filippi at Oamaru in November 2012.
- by Jonny Turner, additional reporting Matt Smith
