Double Delight for Walker

An early double sees Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker back in the spotlight at Kranji, as the Singapore Turf Club reports:

The signs are unmistakable. Two early wins from Q Nine Magic and Moment Of Justice on Sunday cemented further the gradual return to form of Singapore champion trainer Mark Walker.

After a strong start where he stayed on top for many months, the pace dropped right off for the Kiwi horseman in June. Walker, who heads one of the biggest teams at Kranji with more than 70 horses under his care, put the paucity of results down to one factor - the temporary relocation to a makeshift stable while their block was being refurbished.

Walker said the horses did not like the new place and it showed in their general health and performances, with a few isolated exceptions.

Moment Of Justice (Manoel Nunes) is still quite green but finally got on the board on Sunday.

He picked up only two winners in June. Another six winners went on to pad up the score, but it was still a meagre harvest by his standards, so much so he had slid down to third place by the end of August, spotting the new leader Alwin Tan by as many as 14 winners.

He could not have welcomed the return to his block sooner enough when he finally moved back in two weeks ago, and true to his prediction, nothing like being back in familiar surroundings to bring back the feelgood factor - and the wins.

“The horses are clearly running better. Q Nine Magic had no luck at his last few runs and he got a good ride from Shafiq (Rizuan),” said Walker, who still has a fight on his hand to defend his title, with the current gap between Tan and him at 15 winners.

“Shafiq himself has had no luck lately and nor have we, but the luck is turning for both of us.”

The two-time Singapore champion apprentice jockey indeed went through a quiet time, although one could argue his came about after a general drop in quality and quantity of rides across the board. Q Nine Magic, a Class 5 dweller who was recording only his second win in 29 runs, was Shafiq's first winner since Spanish Bay on June 26 to bring up only his 12^th winner for the year.

Well supported at $33, Q Nine Magic (x Guillotine) defeated French Vintage by three parts of a length with King Of Thieves (Glen Boss) third another 3 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 24.24secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.

Walker said his second winner Moment Of Justice had been knocking on the door and deserved to break through for his maiden win in Sunday's $35,000 Open Maiden race over 1400m.

Ridden by Manoel Nunes, the Daliapour four-year-old who was at his seventh Kranji outing, plotted an ideal path in midfield before charging home a solid winner inside the last furlong. Brilliant One (Vlad Duric) momentarily had a foothold in the winner's circle when he hit the front at the top of the straight, but the $11 favourite Moment Of Justice carried on with the same tempo to finish in advance of him by 1 ½ lengths.

Union Jac (Syafiq Hazman) ran on nicely for third another 2 ¼ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 24.6secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.

“He's been a very consistent horse, though he's done a bit wrong in his races, like he always lays in,” said Walker.

“He just needed a bit more time and more distance. It was a well-deserved win and it's also good for the owner Mr Robert Ng.”

Like many of the Lucky Stable horses, Moment Of Justice raced in Australia before coming to Singapore. He was still a maiden but did not do too badly with three placings in six starts for young Mornington trainer Amy Johnston.

Nunes expected more improvement to come from Moment Of Justice after that first win at Kranji.

“He's still learning what racing is all about. I think he's still not strong enough, he's still very skinny,” said Nunes.

“There is still some growing to do and he also needs to mature further, but Mark's done a good job with him and the other horses as well, now that they have moved back to their new stable.”