Mark Hits $1 Million

Yes Te Akau owners have plenty to smile about with Te Akau Singapore's stable passing the $1 million mark in stakes' earnings in just nine weeks of the new season!  What an achievement!

Mark Walker has started the new season (commencing 1 January) in rip-roaring fashion and his horses are flying - well done to the whole team in Singapore who all play such an important part in the success of our operation there - Mark and Julia, Gus and Karen, Stephen - everyone!  In the four and a half years we have had our Singapore stable Mark has already finished runner up on the Trainers' Premiership and it won't be long mark our words until he tops the table as he did on five occasions in New Zealand!

We knew when Mark hit the ground running on the first day of racing for the season - New Year's Day with a winning treble - that the stable was ready to fire.

Since then Mark has saddled up 23 winners in total - with 14 second- and a phenomenal 29 third placegetters - stakes' earnings for Te Akau Singapore now stand close to $1.1 million for our delighted owners.

With a maiden race now worth $75,000, Singapore is a wonderful place to race a horse and when owners see the returns, they agree.  From horses such as Flying Fulton and Clermont Club, Clutha Lad, Alpha Centauri and Rise 'n' Shine - all purchased by David Ellis and all racing with such great results in Singapore - there are many more which we will highlight in coming weeks.

Let's look at Clutha Lad by way of example - he was bought by David for just $35,000 from the Karaka Select Sale.  He has raced 22 times in Singapore for three wins and 12 placings, most recently running a gallant third last night.  He has earned $164,506 in prizemoney.

Alpha Centauri had almost a year off with injury and has returned with a vengeance.  A $60,000 Karaka Select Sale purchase by David, he has raced 19 times with four wins and 10 placings to his credit - he has now banked $220,740 after winning back to back, most recently last Friday.

David purchased Clermont Club from the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka for $165,000 - a slower maturing individual, he was sent by his group of owners to Singapore and in his 22 starts has recorded three wins and seven minor placings, banking $108,740 - with more to come we feel sure.  The winner of two of his last four starts, he ran a very brave race for third on Sunday.

Likewise the promising Sebrose who again was sent early to Singapore by his team of owners as he didn't look likely to make the New Zealand Classics - he is now on a path to the Group 1 Singapore Derby which is for four year olds and has raced just seven times with two wins and four other top three placings - delivering $117,517 for his owners to date.

Then there is Rise 'n' Shine who David secured from the Karaka Premier Sale for $130,000.  He has raced five times in Singapore for three wins and a gutsy fourth in the Group 1 Singapore Guineas - he has claimed $142,796 in prizemoney.

We have two shares remaining in Rise 'n' Shine's Savabeel half brother from the Karaka Premier Sale (see below) - 10% is only $15,000 plus GST and this is a very smart yearling by a top flight sire out of that superb racemare in Kay's Awake who placed behind great horses such as Darci Brahma and Seachange in Group 1 races such as the Telegraph and Waikato Sprint.

Breeders such as last season's Champion Breeder of the Year Kevin Hickman have entrusted horses to Te Akau in Singapore - just look at Jimmy Rea who Kevin smartly sent unraced to Singapore (ideal if possible as then horses are much better off in the ratings) - in his five starts (with three wins) he has now earned $133,155 and is on target for a Group 1 Singapore Guineas' tilt.

Here is the Singapore Trainers' Premiership as of today - you can see Mark is well ahead:

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

If you are interested in racing a horse with Te Akau in Singapore - either your own horse or you want to take a share in horses to race in Singapore do let us know - we have two very nice 2YOs who will be travelling there soon!