Te Akau Singapore Weekend Preview

Te Akau horses racing at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore, where premiership winning trainer Mark Walker (86 wins, 86 seconds, 121 thirds) already has 15 wins, in third position three off the lead, since 1 January.

Friday 4 March

11.50 p.m. R2 4 ASHQAR - Oscar Chavez; drew nicely at barrier four in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden 2&3YO WFA over 1200m on the long course C (turf) and carries 57kgs. A horse that is still acclimatising but will like the grass track and rates a place chance in a field with a couple of form runners.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4521/2

12.20 a.m. (Saturday) R3 7 DREAMCATCHER - Apprentice WS Chan (a3); tricky draw for a horse in the $38,000 Kranji Stakes D SW 1000m on the polytrack and will carry 56.5kgs. A horse that needs to re-discover form and will likely see that occur and show his best when back in Class 5 company.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4521/3

1.50 a.m. (Saturday) R6 11 DR OCTOPUS - Manuel Nunes; draws well at two for the Kranji Stakes D SW 1000m on the polytrack and will carry 55kgs for champion jockey Manuel Nunes. Another who will be better placed in Class 5 but due to no suitable races being available until the month's end, he takes his place.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4521/6

2.20 a.m. (Saturday) R7 10 ROCKFAST - Oscar Chavez; has drawn a touch wide at barrier nine in the S$80,000 Class 3 1400m on the long course C (turf). He carries 54kgs and comes off a wet track dead heat for first. He has trained on nicely and despite now appearing more effective on an off-track, he rates a good place chance and is one of three stable runners in this event.

2.20 a.m. (Saturday) R7 11 VIVIANO - Manuel Nunes; draws out at 12 yet again which makes life awkward for the Class 3 1400m on the long course. The champion jockey will attempt to mitigate this and if any luck goes his way, the gelding rates an each way chance with 54kgs. The second Mark Walker runner in this event.

2.20 a.m. (Saturday) R7 12 IKING - App MM Firdaus (a2); the third starter in the S$80,000 Class 3 1400m for Mark Walker has copped another wide draw (14) but has only 51.5kgs to carry courtesy of the apprentice claim. He rates a rough place chance on the turf but realistically is another who will hold his own when returning to Class 4 company.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4521/7

2.50 a.m. (Saturday) R8 2 GLORIOUS PROSPECT - Manuel Nunes; draws another wide gate (10) in the S$38,000 Kranji Stakes D SW 1600m on the long course C and will carry joint top-weight of 58kgs. He needs to improve on what he has shown to date. One of two in the race for Mark Walker.

2.50 a.m. (Saturday) R8 3 EXCELLENT WINNER - Shafiq Rusof; the widest of barriers (14) will not assist the chances of Te Akau's two time champion apprentice aboard this horse in the S$38,000 Kranji Stakes D SW 1600m. He also needs to improve on what he has shown to date.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4521/8

3.20 a.m. (Saturday) R9 2 CHASE - App R Zawari (a2); draws barrier five of 12 in the S$60,000 Open Benchmark 67 1200 metres on the polytrack and carries 57kgs. It will be interesting to see the return of this horse, back from a wind operation, and he will undoubtedly improve with this run under his belt.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4521/9

Sunday 6 March

5.40 p.m. R1 1 APPELLATION - Manuel Nunes; draws barrier 10 in the S$35,000 Class 5 1200 metres on the long course C (turf). This very consistent performer carries 57kgs for the returning top jockey and finds a suitable race so, even though his form has been at 1400, expect a nice run fresh over 1200m. Tricky draw but he does rate an each way chance, one of two in the race for Te Akau.

5.40 p.m. R1 7 BONJOUR BOB - I Saifudin; draws alongside his stablemate (11) and faces a difficult task from the extreme outside of the 11-strong field. Carrying 55.5kgs for the first start from the stable, he does need to improve on the form he has shown to date.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4522/1

6.10 p.m. R2 9 CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN - Manuel Nunes; in a weekend of outside draws, this horse has another (14) in the S$65,000 Initiation 4YO+Below WFA 1100m on the polytrack. The disappointing draw somewhat reduces the each way chance this runner was considered. One of two in the race for Mark Walker.

6.10 p.m. R2 13 DURAN - App R Zawari (a2); currently sitting first on the ballot, and having drawn barrier 10, he returns after a bleeding incident and rates a place chance should he make the field.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4522/2

7.10 p.m. R4 8 FREE HAPPY - Manuel Nunes; draws gate nine in a field of thirteen in the S$38,000 Kranji Stakes D SW 1400m on the turf and carries 56.5kgs. He might need to drop back in grade to Class 5 to show his best.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4522/4

7.40 p.m. R5 3 ASPEN - Manuel Nunes; draws 10 in a field of 10 in the S$60,000Class 4 1400m on the turf. Yet another facing the challenge of the wide gate, he carried 55.5kgs and will improve should there be any rain about. However still rates an each way chance with luck in running.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4522/5

8.10 p.m. R6 6 BREAKING VAULTS - Manuel Nunes; draws the ace in the S$35,000 Class 5 1200m on the long course C (turf). Weighted with 55.5kgs, this first starter for the stable trained nicely during the week and rates a good place chance in an even field.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4522/6

8.45 p.m. R7 2 IDYLLIC SCENERY - App R Zawari (a2); only a seven horse field with three Mark Walker representatives. This gelding the first in the S$80,000 Progress SW 1200m on the long course C (turf). Drawn six from the seven, the 2kgs apprentice claim drops him back to 56kgs however a return to Class 4 would see him show his best.

8.45 p.m. R7 3 Q NINE MAGIC - App WS Chan (a3); the second stable runner in this event draws the opposite to his aforementioned stablemate jumping from barrier one. The apprentice claim employed here sees him carry a 55kgs but he looks best placed in a Kranji Stakes D to show his best.

8.45 p.m. R7 7 LIM'S KNIGHT - Oscar Chavez; draws nicely at two and is a very exciting galloper who looks not only to be well placed in this field, but looks to be going places. A strong each way chance with just 50kgs assigned in the S$80,000 Progress SW 1200m. The third Te Akau representative in this race.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4522/7

10.55 p.m. R11 2 ROBIN HOOD - Danny Beasley; draws barrier one off the back of a smart last start win. He lines up over 1400m in the S$60,000 Class 4 on the long course C (turf) due to the mile option being cancelled due to insufficient entries. Carrying 57kgs, he may find this a touch short but he is a promising type - one of two in the race for Mark Walker5kgs.

10.55 p.m. R11 5 DAMON - Oscar Chavez; the second of Te Akau's two entries in this event draws well at four in the 11 strong field and carries 55.5kgs. Likewise looking for a mile assignment however that was canclled and may be looking for further. Nonetheless rates a place chance with luck.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4522/11