Te Akau Singapore Friday Preview

The 2015 Champion Singapore Trainer and Trainers' Premiership winner, TeAkau's Mark Walker (who finished third on the 2016 Trainers' Premiership) has trained 70 winners - as well as 60 runners up and 59 third placegetters - and continues to dominate the Trainers' Premiership - leading by 25 wins.


Friday 8 September -

10.50 p.m. R2 1 DISCRETELY RED - Shafiq Rizuan; the second race of the night features two starters for Singapore's leading trainer. The first in this Initiation 4YO+Below 1200m on the polytrack has drawn best (4) and carries 57.5kgs for the former two-time Champion Singapore apprentice. A son of Redwood, raced by a Te Akau New Zealand syndicate, his two runs to date have been eye catching. He went a top race on debut for third and then got galloped on last start when finishing fourth - top four chance.

10.50 p.m. R2 2 O'REILLY STAR- Vlad Duric; Singapore's leading rider climbs aboard the second of Mark Walker's runners, another owned by a Te Akau New Zealand syndicate. In this line-up of 12, he has drawn midfield at seven and also carries 57.5kgs. He has shown early Singapore promise to date with two third and two fifth placings from his four appearances and, having been unlucky on a couple of occasions, a winning turn doesn't look far off. Last time out he actually got checked at the top of the straight when coming into the race nicely - top four chance.

11.20 p.m. R3 1 STORM TROOPER - App R Zawari (a2); Mark Walker again lines up two runners - this time in this Class 4 1400m on the turf long course A. The first jumps from the ace draw and, a winner three back, carries 56.5kgs thanks to the apprentice claim. A son of Tavistock, he is a horse that really appreciates rain and if it comes - a place chance at odds, as he drops back in Class tonight.

11.20 p.m. R3 5 SACRED SURFER - Vlad Duric; the second for the stable in this 
S$60,000 event has his third start for the Raffles' Racing team tonight and also draws competitively (4 of 11). With 55.5kgs on his back for the top rider, he debuted tidily for third and copped some bad luck last start when out of the money. With that debut run in mind and blinkers going on - a top five chance.

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R5 7 DECRETO - Ismail Azhar; for fear of sounding repetitive, Mark Walker again lines up two contestants in this Class 4 1100m event on the polytrack. The first is a 4YO son of Red Giant who draws a touch wide (8 of 12) but only has 52.5kgs to contend with. In his two starts to date he has finished a credible fourth and fifth - blinker pacifiers go on and down in the weights - a top four chance.

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R5 9 HAYTHAM - Oscar Chavez; coincidentally the second of the stable duo has also delivered a fourth and fifth from his past two appearances as well. Likewise a lightweight for this contender with 51.5kgs to carry but he does have a wide draw (11) to navigate. He has had a wind operation and needs to improve.

12.50 a.m. (Saturday) R6 5 BEST JADE - Manuel Nunes; a 5YO son of Showcasing, he breaks from gate five in the Class 5 1200m on the polytrack, carrying 54 kgs. In this 12-strong event, he finds a weaker field but also needs to improve.

2.20 a.m. (Saturday) R9 11 CLUTHA LAD - App CK Ng (a3); a grand old campaigner, this now 8YO by Thorn Park cops the challenge of the outside gate in the field of 12 for this Class 4 1400m on the turf long course A. A horse that always tries hard, verified by his gutsy win two starts ago, he drops to the luxury weight of 48kgs with the apprentice aboard. He more than likely needs to drop back to Class 5 company to again be really competitive.