Te Akau Singapore Sunday Preview

Singapore's Champion Trainer of 2015 and 2017, Te Akau's Mark Walker has recorded 27 wins, 26 second and 28 third placings - the highlight thus far being the Group 2 Merlion Trophy win by Distinctive Darci and the Group 2 Stewards' Cup with Elite Invincible.


Sunday 17 June 2018


5.20 p.m. R1 10 SUCCESS COME TRUE - Alysha Collett; the first for the stable on Sunday lines up in this Class 4 non-premier 1100m on the polytrack where he draws handily at three and has just 51.5kgs assigned with the Kiwi rider engaged. A 4YO by Alamosa, he needs Class 5 to be competitive again.

5.50 p.m. R2 1 COUP BRADMAN - App Razali Zawari (a1); three stable reps. on debut in the Restricted Maiden 2&3YO WFA 1000m on the polytrack - the first is a 3YO son of Darci Brahma who has been well educated in New Zealand. He draws the best of the trio, jumping from gate two and has 57kgs on his back. This race is his first and is a stepping stone as he is a horse that will improve with more distance.

5.50 p.m. R2 9 SPOKESMAN - Vlad Duric; the second “first-timer” for the stable in this event is another by Alamosa and this 3YO cops a wide draw (10 of 12) and also carries 57kgs. Hunting the thick end of the S$85,000 stake, he is a nice horse - each way chance.

5.50 p.m. R2 10 BROADWAY SUCCESS - Alysha Collett; the third of the Walker runners couldn't ask for a worse draw for his first appearance in Singapore - he has landed the rank outside draw in the field of 12 but in his favour, he only has 49.5kgs to carry. This is due to him being a 2YO - also by Alamosa, he was purchased by David Ellis from last year's Ready to Run Sale at Karaka for a small team of Kiwi owners. A real shame about the outside barrier draw, he will be ridden back and if he can get some luck from that awkward position - each way chance.

6.55 p.m. R4 3 LIM'S RHYTHM - Ryan Curatolo; another Restricted Maiden event for 2 & 3YOs under WFA conditions, this time over the mile on the turf short course D. This 3YO by Rock 'n' Pop draws the widest gate (12 of 12) and has 57kgs allocated. He has been racing consistently without breaking through but needs to return to Class 5 to be a winning prospect.

7.25 p.m. R5 3 SACRED SEA - Vlad Duric; two starters for the stable in the Class 4 non-premier 1700m on the polytrack - the first has the ace draw and will carry 56kgs. This 5YO rates a top four chance from the good barrier draw.

7.25 p.m. R5 5 JACK'S SECRET - Craig Grylls; the second runner for Mark Walker has the opposite draw to his stablemate (11 of 11) and carries 55kgs with the Kiwi rider engaged. Racing in the Fortuna colours, he posted an improved effort for fourth last start. The draw will force a change of riding tactics and a place chance if he can overcome that disadvantage.

8.00 p.m. R6 4 DARCI SUPER - Ismail Azhar; to round off the day, Mark Walker lines up three of the 12 starters in the Open Maiden 1200m on the turf short course D - the first runners is another debutant and he has drawn out (10) and has 57.5kgs assigned. Unfortunately yet another with a difficult gate - place chance.

8.00 p.m. R6 7 ACCUMULATION - App Mohamad Firdaus (a1); no luck draw-wise either for the second of the trio - he will spring from barrier 11 in the field of 12 and carry 56.5kgs. Not much went right for him on debut when he got his tongue over the bit and “choked down” he is a much better horse than that. Second up today for this son of Rip Van Winkle, he too faces a challenging barrier draw and will be ridden patiently from there - place chance.

8.00 p.m. R6 8 BEJEWELLED - Vlad Duric; to complete the stable runners in this 
S$20,000 event, a son of Minstrel Court who went a super race for second on debut. Unfortunately he was also galloped on in that race so has required some time away to recuperate. He has the champion rider engaged, is drawn to advantage (3) and will carry 56.5kgs. He will improve fitness-wise off this race - top four chance nonetheless.