Mag-nificent

Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker has again shown what it takes to be Singapore's leading trainer - with a winning double recorded on Friday - firstly Prince Mag and then ... My Lucky Strike ...

Leading trainer Mark Walker was proven right for his bold decision to back up Irish-bred galloper Prince Mag on Friday night.  After scoring a dominant win in a Class 5 race over 1800m last Sunday, the Zamindar six-year-old was again entered five days later in the $38,000 Kranji Stakes D race over 2200m, and without fanfare, repeated the feat in almost identical fashion.

Again settled in midfield by champion jockey Manoel Nunes, Prince Mag ($19) took closer order to sit in a striking position at the 300m before drawing away to an easy two-length win from Galaxy Express (Alan Munro) with the other Walker King Savinsky (Shafiq Rizuan) running third another half-a-length away. The winning time was 2min 16.2secs for the 2200m on the Long Course.

Prince Mag (Manoel Nunes) makes it two-in-a-row in the space of five days.

A former French and Hong Kong-based galloper, Prince Mag came to Singapore with a moderate form that included two wins in humble company in France, but hopes from the Lucky Stable were still relatively high he would hit his straps at his new hunting ground at Kranji.

Results had, however, been mixed with only one win in a Kranji Stakes D race over 2000m race and a few placings - until the back-to-back wins at his last two runs, a promising sign that he might have finally turned the corner.

“I think that win last week gave him a bit of confidence. He pulled up good after that and I thought why not run him again as he seems to have hit a rich vein for form,” said Walker who is now only one win short of the half-century for the season.

“The trip suited him as well as he can stay. He can be a quirky horse and he has also taken a while to settle in especially after he moved from France to Hong Kong.  He certainly has some ability and it's good to have another winner for the Lucky Stable.”

Nunes said that, unlike Walker, he was a little concerned by the step-up from 1800m to 2200m within only five days.

“He was in good form, but I was a bit worried about coming from 1800m to 2200m in only five days,” said the leading rider.

“But he settled well at the back and when I asked him to go, he again gave me the same kick as at his last win.”

Prince Mag has now brought his earnings past the $110,000 mark for the Lucky Stable.