Awatere Awesome in Singapore

Premiership leading trainer Mark Walker made a great start to the Singapore Guineas meeting on Sunday at Kranji, when Awatere (3 g Charge Forward - Catbird Kitty, by Catbird) scorched along in front to win the $38,000 Kranji D 1200 metres and became his 400th winner since arriving in Singapore.

With Shafiq Rusof in the saddle, Awatere made light work of crossing to the rail from barrier ten and found a good kick when challenged in the straight to win comfortably by 1 ½ lengths.

The slick nature of the turf track was evidenced in a smart time of 1:09.4 for the 1200 metres and already twice a winner from six starts on the grass, up to 1400 metres, Awatere returned juicy odds of $19.00 & $5.80 on the NZ TAB.

Owned by Craig and Pip Forsyth, and their children Oli and Hannah, in Marlborough, the victory by Awatere also created a milestone for Mark Walker to become his 400th winner in Singapore.

Leading the trainers premiership this season with 32 wins, Walker won the 2015 premiership with 86 wins and always been one of the best in the business since arriving in 2011. With over a dozen classic successes to his name in Singapore, Walker was a record-breaking winner of five premierships for Te Akau before leaving New Zealand, becoming the youngest at just 31 years old to win the title, and his training skills are now recognised as being truly international.

“He's turned his form around, looked much happier, and it's great that he also brought up a milestone for Mark,” said Craig Forsyth, who is planning a trip for the family in July to see Awatere race in Singapore. “It's his third win, two have been in $75,000 races and we can't complain - it's very good. The stakes are great over there.”

Of the win, trainer Mark Walker said: “He just dropped down a class and we rode him handy and he found his winning form again. We decided to be more positive on him and got the result. He's got a good record now, had eleven starts for three wins and he'd have about $120,000 in the bank so he's been good for the owners”.

Awatere was purchased as a yearling by David Ellis for $50,000 at the 2015 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the draft of Lyndhurst Farm, with a weanling half-brother by Iffraaj (Zafonic) selling at the NZB National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale last week for $85,000.

“Craig and Pip Forsyth and their children have been unbelievably loyal clients of ours,” Ellis said.

“They're very dear friends of ours and we really value their involvement in Te Akau. I bought this horse for them and we're so proud of his winning efforts in Singapore.

“Craig and Pip also have a share in the promising youngster Cousteau, had previous success with Te Akau Rose and Wolfwhistle and I love seeing good people getting some success with their horses because I know how much it means to both them and us.

“Mark (Walker), Gus and Karen Clutterbuck and Robbie Hewetson put in an enormous amount of work for Te Akau in Singapore, and it's a fantastic result for Mark to have achieved his 400th win with this horse.

“Mark is a great trainer and to have recorded 400 winners already in Singapore is incredible,” he said.
Main picture - Awatere as a yearling at the Karaka Sale