Four in Under 48

The winning just keeps on coming - it has been a fantastic weekend for Te Akau Racing in both Singapore and in New Zealand.

In Singapore, Te Akau trainer Mark Walker has furthered strengthened his stranglehold on the Trainers' Premiership with three wins across the weekend - classy Kam's Comet on Friday and Prince Mag and Keen Dragon on Sunday - all ridden by gun rider, Singapore's champion jockey Manoel "Manny" Nunes.

So a winning treble in Singapore - and a 100% strike rate for Te Akau Racing in New Zealand as Opulent, our sole winter starter at Ruakaka, romped away in the Maiden 1600m in the hands of Matt Cameron with a well deserved win.

So yes - four winners in under 48 hours - outstanding!  This weekend's success of course adds to the already impressive $3.35 million in prize money already won for Te Akau owners across both stables in their current seasons.

Other runners to impress in the weekend in Singapore included runners up Storm Trooper and Om with King Savinsky, Iking, Irish Rebel, Alpha Centauri and Brahms and Liszt all finishing in third position.

In New Zealand, Te Akau stable rider Matt Cameron had a great day at the office riding four winners at Ruakaka while Te Akau Singapore's champion apprentice Shafiq claimed a hat-trick of three Kranji wins on Sunday.

Well done team!  Here is what the Singapore Turf Club reported:

Singapore champion jockey Manoel Nunes has overcome a long time on the sidelines and fitness worries to bring up an outstanding haul of six winners over the weekend at Kranji.

The Brazilian was ousted for one month after returning to scales around a pound lighter after he won a race aboard Falcon in February. He himself thought he would gingerly sneak his way back given he was concerned he would still be a lit rough around the edges, but obviously, he had sold himself short.

Banging in three winners (Squire Osbaldeston, Famous Artist and Kam's Comet) at his first day back on Friday night, Nunes enjoyed another prolific day on Sunday by doubling his overall score with another winning hat-trick - Benji's Rule, Prince Mag and Keen Dragon.

Keen Dragon (Manoel Nunes) races away from Lucky Six (Shafiq Rizuan, no. 9) in Race 10.

Half of the six wins (Kam's Comet, Prince Mag and Keen Dragon) came for a trainer he has really forged a successful partnership with this season, Mark Walker, and it is no coincidence both currently sit at the top of the tree in their respective premierships. Walker now sits on 48 wins, 10 clear of Michael Freedman while Nunes has more than cut back the “loss of opportunities” that beset him during his protracted absence.

A tearaway leader before his suspension, Nunes saw his lead cut back by 10 wins by jockey Michael Rodd while he was away, but the six wins have gone a long way in nullifying that relative slide and restore the breathing space he had before the enforced holiday.

“It's great. To be honest, I was worried about my fitness as I was away for a month,” he said after Keen Dragon won in the penultimate event.

“But I feel as good as ever. In hindsight, that enforced holiday has probably helped me freshen up. I was also concerned about my lips (hurt himself during a barrier trial with Miss Elysium), which were badly swollen before I was suspended. It is still stitched up and one of the stitches actually came off.

“I couldn't be happier with my comeback. I thought I had a good book of rides over both Friday and Sunday, but I thought I could at best ride two or three winners. Six is winners is great. They have caught up with me, but six wins will help give back my big lead.”

While the news of Nunes taking the Kranji scene by storm may not be so rejoicing for his fellow riders, trainers like Walker were glad to see the champ back with a bang.

“I like working with Manoel. He's a great guy and a great rider,” said Walker.

“We've had a great association and I hope it keeps going that way.”

Of Keen Dragon, who was first-up from a four-month spell and was scoring his second win from six runs, Walker had nothing but kind words, but was worried about his size.

“He's only a small thing, but he tries so hard all the time,” said the Kiwi mentor.  Manoel rode him very well today. I hope he can go through his grades, but the weights will rise as he goes up, and we will then have to get an apprentice for some claim.”