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 85 winners - and continues to dominate the Trainers' Premiership, leading by 22 wins.


Friday 1 December

11.20 p.m. R1 10 BEST JADE - App R Zawari (a2); the first for a busy night for Te Akau Singapore trainer Mark Walker and our team comes up in this Class 5 1000m on the polytrack. Unfortunately this 5YO Showcasing gelding draws 12 of 12 but does have some weight relief, dropping to 55.5kgs with the apprentice claim. After a handy resuming run for fourth when last presented, he has a tricky barrier draw to overcome - place chance.

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R3 1 ELITE INVINCIBLE - Vlad Duric; an Irish-bred 3YO on debut in this Class 4 1200m on the polytrack where he draws midfield (6 of 12) and has 58kgs on his back. Fresh from Europe, he looks place chance here.

12.50 a.m. (Saturday) R4 9 BURGUNDY PRINCE - Ismail Azhar; two nominees for this Open Maiden WFA 1400m on the turf short course C - this son of Burgundy however looks to be the only one to get a start. He will ping from gate five with only 53kgs assigned. This 3YO is improving slowly as he acclimatises.

12.50 a.m. (Saturday) R4 15 ELITE ROCKET - TBC; the second for the stable in this S$35,000 event looks unlikely to make the field, being first emergency. He has drawn the absolute outside and would carry 53kgs if he got a start.

1.20 a.m. (Saturday) R5 6 CLUTHA LAD - Vlad Duric; a field of 12 for this Class 5 1800m on the polytrack where this hardy old campaigner has drawn well (3) and is weighted with 56.5kgs. One of two for Mark Walker here, this Thorn Park 8YO finally gets a good draw and has the credentials to figure in the top five.

1.20 a.m. (Saturday) R5 14 KASHAN - TBC; placed second on the ballot, this 6YO draws 12 of 12 and has 50kgs assigned - he looks unlikely to get a start.

1.50 a.m. (Saturday) R6 11 ALRINA - Harry Kasim; another race with two stable reps. and both make the field for this Maiden 1200m on the turf short course C. The first runner, a 4YO Alamosa mare, jumps from gate eight and carries only 51.5kgs. With somewhat mixed form, she needs to improve to figure in the finish.

1.50 a.m. (Saturday) R6 12 POWER WARRIOR - Ismail Azhar; the second for the stable cops the awkward one-from-the-outside draw in the field of 14 runners but also has just 51.5kgs to carry in this S$35,000 affair. This 3YO by Power has shown some solid form this prep however he also needs to step up.

2.20 a.m. (Saturday) R7 11 LIM'S KNIGHT - App CK Ng (a3); a three kilo apprentice claim in this S$100,000 Open Benchmark 83 1400m will see this 5YO drop to the featherweight allocation of only 47kgs. Breaking from the handy three gate on the turf short course C, he faces 11 competitors. His last start third positions him favourably here and he poses a dangerous lightweight chance.

2.50 a.m. (Saturday) R8 9 KINGSMAN - Vlad Duric; the leading rider climbs aboard this stylish last start winning son of multiple Champion Singapore sire Darci Brahma in the Class 3 1200m on the turf short course C. Impressive on debut, the four year old looks poised to pounce again from the ace draw with only 53.5kgs on his back. While he does step up in class, he takes on 11 combatants but is enjoying good form, has drawn well - a top four prospect.

3.20 a.m. (Saturday) R9 2 ELITE POWER - Vlad Duric; the last for the night - or the early hours of the morning in NZ - steps out in this Class 4 1200m on the polytrack. Drawn barrier six, this 3YO son of Sakhee's Secret is on debut and has the services of the season's champion rider, with 57kgs. The first starter is another recent European import and will improve with more time.