Five Wins, Two Countries, 1 Weekend

David updates:

Five wins, two countries, 1 weekend for the Te Akau tangerine!

It has been a exceptional weekend for the entire Te Akau Racing team as we have once again hit the jackpot with wins in both the New Zealand and Singapore!

Both of our teams are on fire and the wins keep rolling in.

Firstly it was the well-bred Osmunda (above) at Tauranga on Friday who, in the hands of Te Akau stable rider Matt Cameron, won nicely fresh up for her owners Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan and the Ballindooley Syndicate - in Sir Patrick's father's colours too.

Then on Friday night at Kranji, Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker defended his top of the Trainers' Premiership spot for the season with the "rock and roller" Rockfast scoring a narrow but tough win in the S$60,000 Class 4 1600m.

A son of Fastnet Rock, Rockfast is well known in New Zealand for his smart 3YO credentials where he was runner up to some of the country's top horses such as Volkstok'n'barrell in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas and Listed Karaka Mile.  Prior to that he had been runner up to Turn Me Loose in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas - the latter having claimed the A$150,000 Listed Darley Seymour Cup in Australia on Sunday.

Bought by David Ellis from the Karaka Premier Sale, 4YO Rockfast performed with so much credit against his age group in New Zealand last season that we know he will be competitive in Singapore.

Back to New Zealand and less than 12 hours later the 'Te Akau tangerine' was at it again, with Te Akau's second 'rocker' for the weekend, another son of Fastnet Rock in Bishop Rock (below) being a dominant Ashburton winner.

Blinkers applied for the first time, Bishop Rock was sent our warm favourite and posted a classy win with even the commentator remarking “he creams them”!

It appeared Bishop Rock was just out for a stroll over the 1600m and we look forward to his next steps as he holds a nomination for the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas.  Still a colt, this lovely athlete was also purchased by David Ellis from the Karaka Sale.

The winning was not complete as then it was a "double delight" on Sunday at Kranji to finish off the weekend in style for Te Akau Racing. Locally owned Zac Command drew first blood claiming his sixth career win.

Ridden by Te Akau champion apprentice Shafiq Rusof, "Suppy" looks on target to bag a second Champion Apprentice title.  He has so far won 48 races - a huge 26 wins ahead of second placed apprentice Harry Kasim.

Later on the Kranji programme, Secret Spice didn't keep it much of a secret when making up the "second leg" of the double.  Bought at Karaka by David for the Fortuna team (managed by John Galvin), this daughter of Sakhee's Secret has been the absolute model of consistency so it was great to see her rewarded with her second career win from 18 starts (that have also seen her deliver six other minor placings).

Both of our Singapore Sunday winners were ridden by star Singapore champion jockey Manuel Nunes who has struck up a formidable relationship with our trainer Mark.

So our Singapore trainer Mark Walker added three more weekend victories to his season's tally.  With 15 meetings remaining until the season's end, we are hoping his margin (currently eight wins) is sufficient to secure his first Singapore Trainers' Premiership.

Mark is unstoppable at the moment with the Te Akau Singapore team fair flying as you can see! He is currently sitting on 71 wins - click here for the latest standings:

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/Premiership.aspx

Te Akau Racing's New Zealand trainers likewise are making a huge impression on the local table, with Steve and Jamie lying two wins off the top spot, training 18 winners already - as you can see here:

https://www.nzracing.co.nz/RaceInfo/Trainer-Premierships.aspx