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 84 winners - and continues to dominate the Trainers' Premiership, leading by 26 wins.


Friday 17 November

11.50 p.m. R1 9 BEST JADE - Manuel Nunes; a winner three starts ago kicks off Mark Walker's race night in this Class 5 1000m on the polytrack. A handy draw of five in this field of 11 and with 56kgs assigned, he finds a suitable race here - top four chance.

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R2 4 BURGUNDY PRINCE - John Powell; three runners for the stable in this Restricted Maiden 2&3YO WFA 1400m on the turf long course C. The first draws out (9 of 12) and has 57kgs to carry. With two 8th placings from his two Kranji appearances to date, this son of Burgundy has been a touch disappointing and needs to improve.

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R2 6 ELITE ROCKET - App R Zawari (a2); the second of the Walker trio draws somewhat better (7) and with the apprentice claim, will drop to 55kgs. Out of the money from his two Singapore starts, he also is one who needs to improve.

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R2 11 VENUS DE MILO - Ismail Azhar; the final of the stable's three in this S$75,000 event is another by Burgundy, this time a filly. Another with a difficult draw (10) she has 55.5kgs on her back. She has recorded two fourth placings from her last three starts - a small filly who always tries hard, she presents as a top four chance.

12.50 a.m. (Saturday) R3 2 TURQUOISE KING - App R Zawari (a2); only eight runners to contest this Open Benchmark 67 1800m on the polytrack where this 7YO draws five and with the claim has 55.5kgs to carry. A more senior campaigner now, he finds a race to suit - top four chance.

1.50 a.m. (Saturday) R5 3 OBSTACLES FREE - App N Hanafi (a4); a 4kg weight relief means 54kgs for this stable runner in the Class 5 1000m on the polytrack where he will bounce out of the two gate in this field of 11. He too finds a suitable race but does need to step up.

2.50 a.m. (Saturday) R7 8 DISCRETELY RED - App R Zawari (a2); this 4YO son of Redwood has been on the steady improve for his Kiwi owners since arriving in Singapore, culminating in his gritty last start win. In this Kranji Stakes D SW over 1800m on the turf long course C, he draws to advantage (4) in this 14-strong line-up with a weight reduction down to 54.kgs thanks to the apprentice. He is up in grade here in a race with not too many chances - top five chance.

3.20 a.m. (Saturday) R8 8 IVANHOE - Craig Grylls; three stable starters in the final event of the evening, this Open Benchmark 67 over 1200m on the polytrack. The first, a winner three starts ago, cops the outside draw (12) and has 56kgs with the Kiwi rider up. He has been a little disappointing since that win and needs to get back to Class 4.

3.20 a.m. (Saturday) R8 9 AHMAL - App R Zawari (a2); the second for Mark Walker in this S$60,000 affair also draws wide (9 of 12) and drops to 53.5kgs for the apprentice. He needs to step up.

3.20 a.m. (Saturday) R8 13 LIM'S KNIGHT - TBA; unlikely starter, he is first emergency and draws the widest gate (13) with 55kgs assigned.