Te Akau Singapore Friday Preview

Te Akau horses racing at Kranji racecourse in Singapore, where 2015 Premiership winning trainer Mark Walker leads the 2017 Trainers' Premiership with 80 wins since 1 January - a lead of 24 wins.  He has also trained 75 runners' up and 66 third placegetters.

Friday 3 November - note there is no Sunday meeting at Kranji this weekend -

11.20 p.m. R1 1 ALRINA - App R Zawari (a2); the first runner for the stable this evening unfortunately cops a wide draw (11 of 12) on the turf short course E in this Class 5 1200m where she drops to 55kgs with the leading apprentice up.  A 4YO by Alamosa, this is her first start in Class 5 company but with the widest barrier draw she will need luck - top five chance if she gets it.

11.50 p.m. R2 8 VENUS DE MILO - Ismail Azhar; another filly stepping out, this one has placed twice in her five Singapore starts to date for the Fortuna team.  She draws midfield (5) in this field of 10 for the Restricted Maiden 2&3YO WFA 1200m on the turf short course E and is assigned only 51.5kgs.  She is not the biggest filly but is very honest and in this S$75,000 event, she looks a place chance.

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R3 10 POWER WARRIOR - Craig Grylls; a capable son of exciting young sire Power, he too has fared badly draw-wise (12 of 12) and will carry 53kgs in the Maiden 1200m on the turf short course E.  Due to the very challenging draw on this turf course, he rates a place chance.

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R3 14   BIG REGARDS - TBA; sitting second on the ballot, he looks unlikely to make the field where he has drawn out at gate 11 with 50kgs.

12.50 a.m. (Saturday) R4 5 LUCKY BOY - Vlad Duric; leading trainer and rider again combine in this Class 5 1200m on the turf short course E where this 5YO Australian bred gelding has drawn midfield (6 of 12) and has 56.5kgs on his back.  Here he finds a very suitable race and with the addition of blinkers - a top four chance.

1.20 a.m. (Saturday) R5 6 TURQUOISE KING - Shafiq Rizuan; two runners for Mark Walker in this Open Benchmark 74 over 1700m on the polytrack.  The first has drawn the widest of the eight-horse field and carries 55.5kgs.  A 7YO by Stratum, he too finds suitable contest and rates a top four chance.

1.20 a.m. (Saturday) R5 9 NORTHERN KNIGHT - App CK Ng (a3); the second representative for the stable draws more advantageously (3) and has only the featherweight of 47kgs on his back with the apprentice climbing aboard.  This S$80,000 affair is his last start before he heads to Malaysia for his future racing - place chance.

1.50 a.m. (Saturday) R6 8 KASHAN - App N Hanafi (a4); a maximum claim of 4kgs will bring this gelding's assigned weight down to 49kgs for the Class 5 1800m on the polytrack.  In this 12-strong field, Mark Walker has two entries with this 6YO showing solid form earlier this prep. But his efforts of late have bene a touch disappointing and he needs to lift.

1.50 a.m. (Saturday) R6 13 CLUTHA LAD - TBA; currently first on the ballot, he has drawn gate seven and is allocated 58kgs, however he looks unlikely to get a start.

2.20 a.m. (Saturday) R7 8 UNSURPASSED - Shafiq Rizuan; the last starter for the stable at Kranji on Friday night lines up in this Open Benchmark 67 over 1100m on the polytrack where he unfortunately draws one from the outside in the field of 12 and will carry 58.5kgs for the former two-time Champion apprentice. Chasing the thick end of the S$60,000 purse, the 5YO by Exceed and Excel was a winner four starts back and runner up two outings ago - he is enjoying good form and this is a suitable race but he does have the difficult barrier draw to overcome.  If he has luck in running he presents as a top four chance.