Cousteau the Brave

Cousteau (4 g Exceed and Excel - Maritime, by Falbrav) added to the premiership leading total for Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker after winning the $50,000 Class 4 1000 metres on Sunday at Kranji.

The season has produced 25 wins
for Walker, while nearest rival Michael Clements advanced to 21 following two
wins on the programme.

Purchased by Te Akau principal
David Ellis in 2016 at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale, for the Te Akau Cousteau
Syndicate, the horse was educated and won in NZ before transferring to Walker.

The trainer had mentioned in his
preview that Cousteau had a wide draw to overcome and rated him a “place chance
with luck”.

Ridden by Benny Woodworth,
Cousteau tracked three wide in seventh on the poly track and sustained a strong
gallop to win with some conviction.

“He's won a couple of races up here and earned $120,000 already, so he's a good, consistent horse at the bottom of Class 3 and top of Class 4.

“I think that's his level, but
horses can still earn a lot of money in those grades if they stay sound for
three or four seasons. And he's a sound horse.

“He was fresh-up yesterday and
got the right run in the right part of the track, and it was a good ride by
Benny (Woodworth) who has always been a good rider.”

Walker ended last season (Dec.
2018) in fourth place on the premiership table, and the leading Kiwi trainer.
The winner of five training premierships in New Zealand, Walker has twice been
crowned Champion Trainer in Singapore (2015, 2017), while also finishing second
and third since setting up stables in 2010 at Kranji Racecourse.

Walker has 25 wins already this
season, 26 seconds and 23 thirds.

“We had a frustrating run of
seconds, but a lot of those are now being converted into wins,” he said.

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