Te Akau Singapore Friday Preview

The 2015 Champion Singapore Trainer and Trainers' Premiership winner, the Akau's Mark Walker (who finished third on the 2016 Trainers' Premiership) has trained 74 winners and continues to dominate the Trainers' Premiership - leading by 25 wins.


Friday 29 September - note with NZ daylight saving, Singapore is currently five hours behind

11.50 p.m. R1 1 JACK'S SECRET - App R Zawari (a2); this son of Sakhee's Secret is the first for trainer Mark Walker tonight, lining up in the Class 5 1100m on the polytrack. Drawing nicely (2 of 12) he will get some relief down to 57kgs with the apprentice's two kilo claim. Raced by Fortuna, he is fresh up without a trial tonight and rates a top four chance.

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R2 5 ELITE ROCKET - Shafiq Rizuan; a 3YO by Roc de Cambes on debut in this Restricted Maiden 2&3YO WFA 1200m event on the polytrack, he will break from gate two in the field of 12 with just 52.5kgs on his back. One of two in this field for the stable, he is a nice horse who will be seen to advantage over further distance.

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R2 12 HALLELUJAH - Harry Kasim; the second for Mark Walker is a filly having her second start and she only has 51kgs to carry, jumping from barrier five in the S$75,000 race. She debuted well enough, will have learned a lot from that experience and is still acclimatising.

12.50 a.m. (Saturday) R3 3 CHAMPAGNE REIN - Michael Rodd; Mark Walker has three starters in the third, the Open Benchmark 67 1100m on the polytrack. The first is this 6YO son of Captain Rio who unfortunately has copped the outside draw of 12 and carries 56kgs for the top Australian rider. He will need luck from the awkward draw but has the right pilot to search it out.

12.50 a.m. (Saturday) R3 4 HELLO MICHELLE - Shafiq Rizuan; the second runner for the stable is this Minstrel Court filly who draws to advantage (4) in the 12 horse field. Weighted with 56kgs, the 4YO was a nice winner two starts ago and has enjoyed a strong overall record since transferring to Singapore from New Zealand last season. She always runs well in a fresh state - a top four chance.

12.50 a.m. (Saturday) R3 6 PURE JUSTICE - App R Zawari (a2); the final of the trio has won two of his past five starts, draws out a touch (8) and with the apprentice allowance has only 53.5kgs to carry. This 5YO has found good form since his wind operation - a top five chance.

1.20 a.m. (Saturday) R4 6 BEST JADE - Manuel Nunes; this last start winner takes his place in the Class 5 1200m on the polytrack where he will break from gate eight and carry 56kgs. Facing a field of 11 opponents, he is an unpredictable individual but as he showed last start, when he puts it all together he is capable - a top four chance.

1.50 a.m. (Saturday) R5 3 THE COSMOS - Vlad Duric; a 6YO son of Darci Brahma, he has really hit a purple patch of form with a win, third and second placing from his last three starts. In this Class 4 1000m on the polytrack, he draws well (3), carries 57.5kgs and is enjoying good form - with the top rider up, a top four chance.

2.20 a.m. (Saturday) R6 1 CLUTHA LAD - Vlad Duric; the senior Australian rider also climbs aboard this grand campaigner in the Class 5 1700m on the polytrack. An 8YO son of Thorn Park, he has served his Kiwi owners well, earning over $300,000, having cost only $36,000. Tonight he draws the ace, carries top weight of 59 kgs and back to Class 5 company, he rates a top four chance.

3.20 a.m. (Saturday) R8 1 JUSTICE LIGHT - Vlad Duric; the final race for Mark Walker's team will feature three from the stable: the first another exciting son of multiple Singapore Champion Sire Darci Brahma. In this Open Benchmark 67 over 1100m on the polytrack, the 4YO draws beautifully (2) and has 57kgs assigned. With a recent form line of 2-2-1-1-1, he is hunting down his fourth consecutive win and in great form - a top four chance.

3.20 a.m. (Saturday) R8 3 AHMAR - Oscar Chavez; the second for the stable in this S$60,000 affair draws barrier seven of 12 and has 56.5kgs to carry. This 6YO might need to get back to Class 4 to return to the winner's circle.

3.20 a.m. (Saturday) R8 11 UNSURPASSED - Shafiq Rizuan; the final runner of the Walker trio, and for the night for the stable, he too is enjoying good form, having won two of his most recent five appearances. Unfortunately it is barrier 12 for this son of Exceed and Excel with 55kgs and thus he will need plenty of luck. if he gets that luck he can figure in the finish.