Congratulations Mark

​Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker celebrated a career milestone on Sunday when his 1000th winner saluted the judge.

It was appropriate too that the milestone was set through the win by a One Cool Cat gelding named My Tricia, who was bought for a Singapore client from the Karaka Sale by Te Akau Principal David Ellis.

In what has been a remarkable career, Walker (only 41) has achieved this significant tally in a relatively short timeframe comparatively speaking.

Mark began with Te Akau Racing in New Zealand after his final year of high school and David Ellis always knew that with his skill and horsemanship, Mark was destined to become a top class trainer - and so it has proven.

Named New Zealand Trainer of the Year on four occasions, and winning five New Zealand Trainers' Premierships, Mark Walker recorded a number of elite level successes in during his time with Te Akau in New Zealand (these can be viewed below).  This included breaking the long standing record of training wins in a season held by Dave and Paul O'Sullivan amongst the  numerous records he set during his New Zealand training career.

Mark relocated to Singapore in 2010 to establish Te Akau Singapore together with David Ellis - and hasn't looked back.  In fact he has been the leading trainer in Singapore for almost the entire season since it commenced in January 2013.  Te Akau Singapore is a flourishing operation and its 2013 success speaks for itself.  Te Akau owners are enjoying the high level of stakes on offer, together with the attractive $900 starters' incentive available on every race.

“Congratulations Mark from everyone at Te Akau - we could not be more proud of you,” said David Ellis.  “It is only a matter of time until Mark adds a Singapore Trainers' Premiership to his already very impressive CV.”

MARK WALKER
5 TIME CHAMPION NEW ZEALAND TRAINER
Leading Trainer in Singapore 2013
Trainer of1000 Winners

TRAINING CAREER HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE:

Winner of 20 Group 1 Races - 19 New Zealand, 1 Australia

Winner of 93 Group or Listed Races in NZ & Australia and 7 in Singapore

Winner of 865 Individual Races in NZ & Australia and 135 races in Singapore (as at 21.7.13)

NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA RECORD

•    NZ Record All Time Wins in a season - 108 - 2010

•    NZ Record for Highest Ever Stakes' Winnings in a season

•    NZ Record For Highest Ever Number of 2YO Wins in a season

•    Winner of 5 NZ Trainers' Premierships

•    Voted “NZ Trainer of the Year” Award Winner four times

•    Trained 3 NZ Champion 3YO Fillies

•    Only Trainer to have trained 3 Consecutive NZB Filly of the Year Title Winners

•    Trained 2 NZ Champion 2YO of the Year Title Winners

•    Trained 2 NZ Champion Sprinter/Miler of the Year Title Winners

•    Trained 1 NZ Champion Stayer of the Year Title Winner

•    Trained 1 NZ Champion Middle Distance Horse of the Year Winner

•    Trained 1 NSW Australia Stayer of the Year Title Winner

•    Trained the two time Winner of NZ's Richest Race, the $2million Kelt Capital Stakes - in back to back seasons

BIGGEST RACE WINS IN NEW ZEALAND

3 time winner of New Zealand's richest WFA race -

•    Group 1 $2million Kelt Capital WFA Stakes 2008

•    Group 1 $2million Kelt Capital WFA Stakes 2007

•    Group 1 $750,000 Kelt Capital WFA Stakes 2003

3 time winner of Group 1 2YO events in New Zealand -

•    Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce 2YO Stakes 2005

•    Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce 2YO Stakes 2003

•    Group 1 Auckland Sires Produce2YO Stakes 2003

5 time winner of Group 1 3YO classic events in New Zealand

•    Group 1 $1million New Zealand 2000 Guineas 3YOs 2008

•    Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas 3YOs 2005

•    Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas 3YOs 2003

•    Group 1 New Zealand Oaks 3YO Fillies 2007

•    Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas 3YO Fillies 2007

7 time winner of Group 1 Sprint or Mile events in New Zealand -

•    Group 1 Stoneybridge WFA Stakes 2008

•    Group 1 Telegraph Open Handicap Sprint 2007

•    Group 1 Waikato Sprint 2007

•    Group 1 Otaki WFA Sprint Stakes 2006

•    Group 1 Thorndon Mile Handicap 2005

•    Group 1 Otaki WFA Spring Stakes 2004

•    Group 1 Telegraph Open Handicap Sprint 2004

BIGGEST RACE WINS IN AUSTRALIA

•    Group 1 TJ Smith Handicap for 2YOs - Darci Brahma - 2005

•    Group 2 MRC St George Stakes - Princess Coup - 2008

•    Group 2 QTC Grand Prix Stakes -Distinctly Secret - 2002

•    Group 3 BTC Chairmans Handicap - Society Beau - 2002

•    Listed Rough Habit Plate - Distinctly Secret - 2002

•    2nd Group 1 VRC Australian Cup - Princess Coup - 2008

•    2nd Group 1 STC BMW Stakes - Princess Coup - 2008

•    2nd Group 1 AJC Ranvet Stakes - Princess Coup - 2008

•    2nd Group 1 VRC MacKinnon Stakes - Princess Coup - 2007

•    2nd Group 1 VRC Australian Guineas - Darci Brahma - 2006

•    2nd Group 1 AJC George Main Stakes - Kings Chapel - 2004

•    3rd Group 1 MRC Caulfield Cup - Princess Coup - 2007

•    3rd Group 1 MRC Caulfield Cup - Distinctly Secret - 2004

•    3rd Group 1 VRC MacKinnon Stakes - Distinctly Secret - 2003

SINGAPORE TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS TO DATE:

•    Saddled up first runner in Singapore in October 2010

•    Trainer of 135 winners in Singapore (Oct. 2010 - 21 July 2013)

•    2nd Group 1 $1.35million Singapore Gold Cup just 1 month after saddling 1st Singapore runner, Nov 2010

•    Trained a winning double on Singapore Gold Cup Day - Nov 2010

•    1st Group 3 Committee's Prize - Sept 2011

•    3rd Group 1 Patrons Bowl - June 2011

•    1st Group 3 New Years Cup - January 2012

•    1st Group 3 Polytrack Mile Championship - March 2012

•    1st Yew Tee Classic Stakes - July 2012

•    2nd Group 2 Chairman's Trophy - July 2012

•    1st Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes - November 2012

•    Trainer of 2012 Polytrack Horse of the Year - Flying Fulton

•    1st Group 3 Marsiling Classic Stakes - March 2013

•    1st Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe 2YO Feature - May 2013

•    Master of Singapore's Champion Apprentice in 2011 R. Shafiq