More Singapore Success

Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker stays ahead of the pack on the Trainers' Premiership brining up yet another Kranji winner today, as the Singapore Turf Club has reported:

Trainer Mark Walker was happy to squeeze a win out of Dr Octopus who broke his maiden status in the $65,000 Initiation Stakes over 1000m on Sunday.

Providing Manoel Nunes with his fourth straight victory for the afternoon, Dr Octopus scored by a length-and-three-quarters over Balestra (Mohd Suhaimi) with Lucky Strategy (Alan Munro) a length-and-a-half away in third place. 

Following the scratching of the favourite Wu Scholar behind the barrier before the race, Dr Octopus came into favouritism and Nunes gave the three-year-old a gun ride in fifth position on the fence behind the speed set by Lucky All Win (Tan Wei Li) and Lucky Strategy.

As the field fanned turning for home, Nunes took full advantage of the gap that appeared and sent Dr Octopus through to challenge for the lead. After a short struggle with firstly Lucky Strategy and then Balestra, Dr Octopus asserted his superiority and drew clear for a strong win.

Dr Octopus made his debut in the first two-year-old race of the season back in March, finishing sixth behind Rappor after leading.

The gelding returned a roarer following that race and was sent off for a wind operation which proved successful with Dr Octopus recording a win and three minor placings from five subsequent starts.

“He needed a wind operation after his first start which is quite unusual for a two-year-old,” said Walker.

“He would have been a nice horse if he didn't need an operation for that problem so it's good to get a win out of him.  It's a bit of a fine line how to ride these horses that have had a wind problem. You can't go using them up too much early and have them there as you need to have something left for the finish.  Dr Dan Shaw did a good job with this horses operation and Manoel rode him well.”

Walker said he had no ambitious plans for Dr Octopus and just hopes the gelding can get a few more wins to help pay his way.

“My wife owns him,” said Walker. “We bought him originally as a turnover horse.  He won a trial in New Zealand and we have a bit of luck selling these types of horses to Hong Kong, but this one didn't scope too well after his trial and didn't pass the vet to go to Hong Kong.  We paid NZ$40,000 for him so we brought him up here and hopefully we'll get our money back.”

By More Than Ready from Kalapana Black, Dr Octopus had collected a little over $26,000 in prizemoney from his three previous placings and added another $34,000 to the kitty with his win on Sunday. 

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