The consistent Pencarrow Stud-bred galloper Connection (Keeper) backed up his maiden victory late last month with another win at his very next start in the $15,000 Dad & Daves Turf Rating 58 (2400m) at Pakenham in Victoria on Saturday.

It took the son of Keeper 16 starts to break through for his first victory after placing nine times as a maiden but it appears he has figured out how to win as he delivered his second win at his first start out of maiden company.

The five-year-old gelding relished the step up in distance to a staying journey at his first win, his first attempt at 2000m, and he stepped up to 2400m to win on Saturday with his trainer, Luke Oliver, seemingly finding his forte.

Ridden once again by Brad Rawiller, Connection settled mid-field with 59.5kgs and worked his way into the race entering the straight to draw alongside race rival Just Junior, trained by Ciaron Maher, as the pair fought out the race. It was Connection that was able to get the better of his rival and score victory by a short half-head with 3.5 lengths back to third.

“It was a good tough win,” commented Oliver. “It obviously took him a long time to break his maiden with it taking him 16 runs but now he has won two in a row which is a good effort by him.

“He is a strong stayer, being out of a Montjeu mare, and we are looking to target some of the 3000m races at Moonee Valley through the summer.

“That was his first time at the 2400m and he ran it out pretty strong so we are hoping he can keep stepping up in trip and be competitive in those staying races.

“I know that Ciaron Maher, who is my neighbour at Caulfield, thinks his horse has a future as a stayer and they drew away from the rest and that is usually a pretty good sign of form.”

Connection has now earned his owners Mr M D Antill, Last Hurrah, Mr D G Alford, Mr R M Alford, Corner Inlet, Mr M G Goodsell, Mr J P Lawrence, Mrs G A Staines & White Lightning Syndicate A$39,445 in prizemoney from his 17 starts.

Bred by Peter & Philip Vela, Connection is out of Pertinacious (Montjeu) who is a daughter of Group 2 winner Sarwatch (Jetball) and descends from foundation Pencarrow mare Riverina Charm (Sir Tristram). Pertinacious is also the dam of Persuasive (Darci Brahma), a runner-up on debut last week for Pencarrow Racing and was covered last season by Zacinto.