Singapore Season Ends - Live Blog

We thought we would do something a little different tonight - this is a live blog that we will be adding to throughout the evening - with the important focus being on Mark Walker officially confirmed as having won his first Singapore Trainers' Premiership.

As tonight is the final race meeting of the Singapore season, we are now settled in front to the tv and looking forward to seeing if Mark can add to his mighty impressive season tally.

To date Mark has prepared 84 winners with his team - he has also seen 83 of his horses finish runner up (and 119 third place-getters) - can you imagine if even a quarter of his second place-getters had won - he would have celebrated a century plus of winners.  That would have been very possible too as many of those were denied a win by the narrowest of margins.

Alright not long to go now ... until Race 1 with Hardcore Rock and Clermont Club (who comes off the ballot), in the hands of 2 and 4 kilo claiming apprentices respectively.

No luck in the first with the wide draw hindering Hardcore Rock but a handy draw saw Clermont Club put in another honest effort to finish fourth - purchased by David Ellis from the Ready to Run Sale, this 6YO son of Casino Prince has won four races since landing in Singapore, and has recorded one second, eight third and three fourth placings - for stakes now close to $150,000.

.... Captain Classique and Lim's Knight contest the next, a restricted maiden for 2&3YOs over 1200m worth $75,000.  The former is looking to improve while the latter is on debut - both will be ridden by senior riders. Oscar Chavez who won aboard Court Case on Friday rides Captain Classique while Alan Munro takes the mount on the debutant.

We thought you might also be interested in one of the many media reports announcing in June 2010 that five time champion New Zealand trainer Mark Walker would be heading to Singapore ...

New Zealand's leading thoroughbred stable, Te Akau Racing Stables, is taking a stake in the Singapore racing market from next year.

Last week the Malayan Racing Association approved a licence for Te Akau - headed by champion trainer Mark Walker - to train in Singapore and compete for the $S64 million ($NZ65.84 million) in prizemoney in the 900 races held there each year.

Walker last week broke a long-standing New Zealand record with 106 wins this season.

The Singapore Turf Club has allocated 40 boxes to Te Akau in the first year and they would train 60 horses in the second, Te Akau principal David Ellis said.

The move was "huge", both for Te Akau and the New Zealand racing industry, he said.

"This exciting development is really good news for the entire New Zealand industry and what better way to promote our industry than to have New Zealand's champion trainer in Asia."

Mr Ellis would not say how much it cost to enter Singapore, but the turf club did have incentives and it would offer the best returns for Te Akau's owners.

"It's quite a financial commitment, but one we think is timely."

There were no further plans for international expansion, Mr Ellis said. Walker and his family will move to Singapore in time for the start of the racing season there in January.

Singapore Turf club president Mike Wanklin said the Ellis arrangement strengthened the ties between New Zealand and Singapore racing.

"I am sure he [Walker] is going to prove a great success here in Singapore."

Mr Ellis said Te Akau was not turning its back on New Zealand racing and would still be "full steam ahead" at its Matamata and Rangiora stables.

The Kranji commentator stated that Lim's Knight was the hard luck story - and if you saw how he rattled home for second in Race 2 you will mark the 3YO by Kaphero as a black booker for his next start in the new season. Mark lines up Q Nine Magic in the next who will take benefit from the 4kg claim from CK Ng and carry only 53kgs - he will need plenty of luck from the wide draw.

Did you know - when Mark first went to Singapore in October 2010, he had three horses and a barn - the racing club provides the building and the first things Mark had to source were the vitals such as feed, gear and all the fundamental basics.

Another second - Q Nine Magic fought on so bravely to be runner up - adding to that impressive runner up total!!  Three runners to watch in the next - light weight (apprentice claim) Best Jade who is on debut and who has trialled well, Vintage Verdot also on debut (who is owned by the same team as Court Case) who has senior rider Alan Munro aboard and the promising Lady Iffraaj who will be ridden by Corey Brown (for luck from a wide draw) for the Fortuna team.

Pre race four the commentators were congratulating Mark and saying what an effort it was to have 19 runners tonight - plus they were angling for a victory party invitation.  Apparently they said Mark told them to join him in New Zealand next week!  Laughing they commented that surely a Singapore party was mandatory!

Well what a terrific result - Lady Iffraaj (below as a yearling after David bought her) was purchased by him at the Karaka Premier Sale from the draft of Jamieson Park for $27,500 - what a buy especially being out of the wonderful mare Naturo. She is an improving filly with great potential and was ridden by Corey Brown - smart ride by him having to drop back from the wide draw but storming home!

We knew a win would be close - with three starts prior she had finished second twice and third on the other occasion, already with $33,000 banked. Well done to the Fortuna team.

So we are now up to win 85 - and also third placing going to Best Jade takes the tally of thirds to 120.  It was bad luck on debut for Vintage Verdot as he was skittled on the turn, copping some bad interference - he will keep and we look forward to him stepping out in the new season, probably perhaps more suited too to the turf.

Keen Dragon (drawn well) and OM (drawn not so well and perhaps looking for further) line up in the next with two and four kilo claimers respectively.

Our THIRD runner up tonight and this time Keen Dragon rattled home out wide for an encouraging effort - another that will win at short notice.

Again a trio of runners in the next race - Swan Song who carries 58kgs and Zarules who has drawn the inside (both former Kiwis) and Big Banker with only 51 kgs on his back - Oscar Chavez aboard the first and claiming apprentices the other two.  The picture below is Zarules (Zabeel/Gwen's Rules) post Karaka Premier Sale purchase by David Ellis in 2013.

 

Two years after Mark, Julia and their family had headed to Singapore, the NZ Herald caught up with Mark when he was back for the Karaka Sale ...

After winning five New Zealand training premierships, Mark Walker made a career-defining decision in 2010 and shifted to Singapore.

Walker was the dominant player in the New Zealand industry when head trainer for Te Akau Thoroughbreds in Matamata. But he wanted further career challenges and the timing was right to shift to Singapore and build another racing stable for Te Akau.

While the shift was always going to be tough on Walker, his wife Julia and children Zavier and Alexis there has been plenty of upside.

"One obvious advantage is that there is only one racetrack in Singapore at Kranji and that means there is no other travelling involved with racing your horses," said Walker.

"I now have a regular routine in terms of being able to spend more time with my wife and family and seeing my children grow up, whereas in New Zealand the racing is spread throughout the country and also Australia. That meant I was spending a lot of time away from home and the family.

"It did take time for all of us to settle into a change of lifestyle but Singapore is a very safe and clean place to live in."

Walker currently has 50 boxes at Kranji and is determined to build that to the maximum number of 60.

A trainer with a prolific strike rate preparing 2-year-olds -Walker is back in New Zealand this week inspecting yearlings - and was doing the rounds of the various studs farms at Karaka yesterday.

Zarules showed grit to stick on for third - Mark's tally of third placegetters now rising to 121!  Interestingly, the Savabeel/Fire Song gelding that won, called Classified, was selected and purchased by David from the Karaka Premier Sale.  Brief break now as our next runner will be the well drawn Eaton's Gold in Race 8 whilst we count down to Sebrose (below) stepping out in Race 9 the $175,000 Group 3 Colonial Chief Stakes.

We have just seen Eaton's Gold (below) fight on valiantly for fourth - the son of Jet Spur was purchased by David from the Karaka Select Sale in 2010 for $72,500.  In a Singapore career that has seen him win five times and finish seven times second, seven times third and seven times fourth - Eaton's Gold has now won over $335,000 in prizemoney!

Now it is time to get ready for tonight's Group 3 feature - good luck to the connections of Sebrose ... a horse who has won $389,470 from just 17 starts that have delivered five wins, four second, three third and two fourth placings.  Good luck to the connections of this son of Sebring out of NZ Oaks' winner Bramble Rose, purchased by David from the Gold Coast Sale.

No luck for Sebrose tonight over a distance a touch short for him - we know he is in for another good season ahead!

Just two races and four runners remain in the final race meeting at Kranji for 2015 - can Mark add one more or even two more wins to his tally?  In the next we will see three runners - firstly Idyllic Scenery who is a real up and comer raced by Mr CC Lai.  In six starts this 4YO son of Northern Meteor has only been out of the money once, registering two wins, a second and two thirds - he has a big future.  A 2kg apprentice claim will add to his prospects of securing a hat-trick of wins.

"Bargain buy" Clutha Lad (below) also steps out with Oscar Chavez up and just weighted 52.5kgs.  This now 6YO son of Thorn Park was purchased from the 2011 Karaka Select Sale by David for $36,000.  His 30 starts have produced 4 wins and 14 other second, third or fourth placings - and in a terrific return on investment, he has earned stakes of $205,076!

Finally Brahms and Liszt always gives an honest account of himself.  He has lined up 16 times for three wins, four second, three third and a fourth place with prize money of $161,446.  He too will take advantage of an apprentice claim, in this instance of 4kgs with only 48kgs on his back, he can be dangerous you would think.

Wasn't a great pace set in Race 10 and Clutha Lad landed parked for much of the early part of the race, having drawn 12 of 13.  Idyllic Scenery and Brahms and Liszt settled well back making their task even more difficult.

Despite being parked, it was a huge effort by the $36,000 purchase Clutha Lad as he swept down the outside to become WINNER NUMBER 86 - perhaps our final winner of the year ... well done to his owners!  It was a great move to send your horse to Singapore to race - his stakes are now close to quarter of a million dollars!

Stunning result with Oscar Chavez in the saddle to claim the $80,000 Class 3 1700m - as the commentator said - well done to Mark Walker, Gus Clutterbuck and their staunch supporters Te Akau Racing!  A great way to farewell the season.

Lucky last for 2015 is perhaps appropriately a horse having his first start for Mark - another owned by Mr CC Lai, Briefness is a son of Starcraft on debut in Singapore - he could be another more suited to the turf but this race is a good starting point. The preview broadcasters say to respect this horse as "Mark Walker's stable is in devastating form".

Another two wins for Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker to conclude the season as No.1 trainer with 86 wins!
That's the close of our first live blog -
your feedback and thoughts would be great - good night!

 

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