Sires' Produce Pair Puts Walker Back in Group 1 Spotlight

Raceform's Richard Edmunds reports:

Mark Walker is jumping in at the deep end in his comeback to New Zealand racing, saddling six black-type starters at Awapuni on Saturday including two key contenders for the Gr. 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes.

A five-time New Zealand premiership winner during the 2000s, Walker has been absent from Kiwi training ranks since relocating to Singapore in 2010. Also a four-time premiership winner at Kranji, he has now returned to Matamata to take over from the Hong Kong-bound Jamie Richards at Te Akau Racing.

The record-breaking Richards has left big shoes to fill at the helm of New Zealand's syndication powerhouse, but Walker is eagerly looking forward to getting his New Zealand career back underway with Saturday's meetings at Awapuni and Avondale.

“It's really exciting to be getting back into it, and we're not starting off with a quiet midweek meeting either - we're going straight into some major races,” Walker told RaceForm this week.

The highlight of Walker's comeback meeting is clearly the $245,000 Sires' Produce Stakes, which Te Akau has won six times in the last 20 years. Walker himself won it with Maroofity in 2003 and Kindacross in 2005, while Richards has dominated in recent years with victories by Melody Belle, Avantage, Yourdeel and On The Bubbles. This year's hopes rest with Dynastic and Maven Belle.

Dynastic won the Karaka Million at Ellerslie in January, and Saturday's race gives him the opportunity to join The Heckler, Melody Belle, Avantage and On The Bubbles as the fifth horse to complete the Karaka Million-Sires' Produce Stakes double.

Te Akau homebred Maven Belle is a multiple Group winner this season, capturing the Gr. 3 2YO Classic at Te Rapa on February 12 and adding the Gr. 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes two weeks later.

Dynastic and Maven Belle both contested the Gr. 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie on March 13, finishing second and third behind Sires' Produce Stakes rival Lickety Split. Dynastic hit the lead inside the last 200 metres and looked the winner before being edged out in a duel to the finish, while Maven Belle flashed home with an eye-catching late run.

“They both ran really well in the Sistema,” Walker said. “Jamie felt Dynastic just came to the end of it a little bit in the last 100 metres, coming into that race off a bit of a break after the Karaka Million, and he was of the opinion that the horse would take a lot of improvement from that run.

“Everything's been ticking over really nicely with both horses since then, and I thought they galloped very well this (Tuesday) morning. It's not a big field, so I don't think draws will have as much effect as they do in some other years.

“I think the step up to 1400 metres is going to really suit both of our horses. In Dynastic's case, you'd say he's absolutely crying out for it on pedigree.”

Saturday's Gr. 3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic features On The Bubbles, who has followed his two-year-old heroics with Listed victories in this season's Uncle Remus Stakes and Mufhasa Stakes. His last start was in the Gr. 1 Levin Classic at Trentham, where he was held up in the straight before charging home for second behind stablemate Imperatriz.

The Brazen Beau gelding will step out beyond 1600 metres for the first time in his career in Saturday's 2000-metre test.

“After he ran the mile out so strongly at Wellington, we really felt that this was a good chance to find out if he can take the step up to 2000 metres,” Walker said. “That'll give us an indication around what we should do with him next season. If he runs well, we could set him for all three races at Hastings in the spring, finishing off with the Livamol.

“He's right on top of his game at the moment and rock-hard fit, so there's no better time to try it out. If he can't run 2000 metres as a three-year-old against his own age, he's not going to do it at weight-for-age when he's four.”

On The Bubbles will be joined in the Manawatu Classic field by Amalfi Prince, who has picked up a win and three second placings in a six-start career to date.

“He's shown potential, but he has to take a bit of a step up this week,” Walker said. “On what he's shown us so far, I think he's more than just a runner's chance.”

Saturday's Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Stakes is a Plan B for Group One performers Prise De Fer and Brando.

“Jamie entered them for the Japan Trophy at Tauranga last Saturday, but we just felt that the heavy track was against them there,” Walker said. “We decided it would be better to wait a week and run them on drier ground at Awapuni.

“Prise De Fer will have to carry a bit of weight here, but he has earned it. We'll see how both of these horses run this week, and it'll tell us whether we should think about something like the Easter Handicap.”