Singapore Win Makes 3

After a winning double on Te Akau's home track at Matamata for Jason Bridgman on Friday - the winning was set to continue for Te Akau in Singapore.

There Te Akau trainer Mark Walker has had a superb start to the new season with his magnificently turned out horses delivering every weekend of the new season.

On the first day of the season Mark trained a winning treble and has remained on top or in second place on the Trainers' Premiership ever since.

On Friday night it was the turn of Clermont Club whose recent consistent form certainly saw him deserve his well fought victory in the $38,000 Class 5 over 1800m.  A son of Casino Prince out of the mare Razzle, his goal was assisted by a gun ride by Singapore's leading jockey Manuel Nunes.

Despite the top weight of 59kgs, the 5YO always looked on paper to be competitive even though giving his opposition significant weight advantage.  Punters thought so too as he was sent out the warm favourite.

To underline how tough the fight was and the spirit shown by the gelding - the runner up carried 56kgs, the third placegetter 48.5kgs, the fourth runner 52 kgs and the remainder of the field from 51 down to 49kgs.  A top effort!

Always handy, settling in third, it was an expert ride as we have come to expect from Nunes.  His star has ascended rapidly since the move of Joao Moreira to Hong Kong and he is the embedded Singapore riding star, the winner of last season's Jockeys' Premiership and by a large margin.  As with Moreira, he is the punters' hero with a huge following - what he rides, they support.

Clermont Club who has now earned just over $75,000 in Singapore has a team of patient and loyal supporters - we are delighted for them and there looks to be more to come.  The win was also a great way to start the weekend that sees Mark Walker return to New Zealand on Sunday evening for two weeks over the Karaka Sale period.

Bought by David Ellis from the 2011 Karaka Ready to Run Sale for $165,000 Clermont Club (named after the famous casino) continues the great form of Te Akau purchases from this sale.  While not buying in numbers, every RTR sale where we have been active has produced winners thus far.

Of the three winners for Te Akau across the operation on Friday, two (Clermont Club and Maestro) were selected and purchased by David at Karaka - bring on the sale starting Monday week!