Mark Hits 200

We are so proud that Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker has reached 200 wins in Singapore - appropriately with a David Ellis purchased runner too.  This success adds to his already well respected New Zealand record.  He has done this in just on four years - so it is an outstanding achievement - the Singapore Turf Club reports:

Trainer Mark Walker reached a new milestone when he brought up his 200th Singapore winner on Friday courtesy of Fiscal Wings in the $35,000 Class 5 Division 1 race over 1200m.

In his usual composed manner, the five-time New Zealand champion trainer was not making a song and dance about the feat, but did acknowledge the landmark win has been a culmination of a successful run from the day he made the bold decision to move to Singapore in September 2010.

From Rio Fortune, his first Kranji winner on 14 November 2010, to Fiscal Wings, the father of two has certainly made his presence felt, winning silverware in seven local features notched between two horses Flying Fulton (four) and War Affair (three) only, the most notable being the latter's Group 2 Aushorse Golden Horseshoe (1200m) win last year.

“Things have gone really well since we came here in September 2010. It's nice to get this milestone,” said Walker, who is still backed by his main New Zealand supporter, David Ellis of Te Akau Racing Stable, owner of Fiscal Wings.

“As you know, I came from a farming background. So it took me longer to settle in, but we're all right now. Singapore is home to all of us now, Julia (wife), Alexis and Zavier and myself.

“This horse is just a Class 5 horse, but Manoel is a classy rider. He did his homework and told me how he wanted to ride him and I told him it sounded good to me.”

After a smart jump, the Fusaichi Pegasus six-year-old sat outside race-leader Play On (David Flores) before going for broke at the top of the straight, drawing clear to score by 1 ½ lengths from Good Boss. Play On stuck on well for third another half-a-length away. The winning time was 1min 13.23secs for the 1200m on Polytrack.

Fiscal Wings ($23) has now taken his record to three wins and seven placings from 34 starts for stakes earnings close to $115,000.

Now that 200 winners have been added to his local haul, Walker is not going to sleep on his laurels.

“I'll look forward to 500 wins now,” he said.