Saturday's 7th Win - Reignite Salutes in Singapore

To add to Te Akau's six New Zealand Saturday wins, including two Group 3 wins within 20 minutes, Reignite contributed a classy victory to the overall winning tally for Te Akau New Zealand and Singapore - taking it to seven!

Reignite was impressive again taking out the S$50,000 Class 4 1200m for Marc Lerner.  The 4YO son of Sebring was purchased by David Ellis CNZM from the Inglis Digital Sale and syndicated by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM late last year among a small team of Te Akau owners. To date he has had eight starts, recording three wins (a Class record amongst them) and three second placings - with just on S$90,000 in prize money won.  

Reignite was Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker's 61st winner of the season - giving him a lead of eight wins on the Singapore Trainers' Premiership.

The Singapore Turf Club reported on Saturday's win:

Progressive sprinter Reignite kept his hot winning form going with a third win in his last four starts on Saturday.

A luckless second at his last race, the Sebring four-year-old has bounced straight right back with a slashing win as the even-money favourite in the $50,000 Class 4 Division 1 (1200m).

The key to the win was getting a tow behind Romantic (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) from the rear of the field and launching once jockey Marc Lerner popped him off Romantic's heels for his run to the wire.

Romantic also let down well, but Reignite packed a little more punch in his finish to go and score a soft one-length win from Romantic in the end. Basilisk (Danny Beasley) ran on for third another two lengths away.

The winning time was 1min 11.10secs for the 1200m on the Long Course. Reignite has now taken his stakes earnings past the $90,000 mark for the Te Akau Racing Stable.

Winning trainer Mark Walker takes a step closer to a fourth premiership title with that 61st winner, extending his lead on reigning champion trainer Michael Clements to eight wins.

The Kiwi horseman said the penny has dropped for Reignite with enough reasons to believe he will hold his own against better rivals.

“He took a little time to acclimatise at his first prep. We gave him a break and he has fully acclimatised now, he's so much better,” said Walker.

“I think the owners will have good fun with him. He's much better than Class 4 for sure.

“At this stage, I'll keep him to sprint races. There is a Class 3 race over 1200m for him next month.”

While Walker praised Lerner for a 10-out-of-10 ride, he also spared a thought for his leading apprentice jockey Hakim Kamaruddin.

“Hakim couldn't ride today after he fell off his mountain bike on Tuesday and had to get some stitches. He should be right next week,” he said.

“I couldn't put Shafiq (Rizuan) on as he is suspended (for careless riding). Luckily, Marc was available and I booked him right away, he's ridden the horse a treat.”