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) again leads the Trainers' Premiership, following six wins last weekend - now with 22 wins since 1 January.

Friday 18 March

11.20 p.m. R1 2 CHANGBAI MOUNTAIN - Manuel Nunes; draws wide in the first, 12 from 12 and carries 54.5kgs for the Maiden 1100m on the polytrack. Best race for him yet since being in Singapore but wide barrier is an issue. If he can get across he rates a top four chance.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4525

11.50 p.m. R2 2 GABBAR - Oscar Chavez; draws six and will carry 57kgs in the Restricted Maiden for 2&3YOs at WFA over 1200m on the short course A turf. Went a very nice race fresh up and has trained on well since. While some rain would have suited, he still rates a top three chance. One of two in the event for Mark Walker.

11.50 p.m. R2 7 FIGHTING QUEEN - Shafiq Rusof; draws seven in this 11 horse field and will carry 55.5kgs for her debut. A recent Singapore arrival, she is still acclimatising and will be better when she gets to a mile but they have to start somewhere and she rates a place chance at best.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4525/2

12.50 a.m. (Saturday) R4 7 APPELLATION - Manuel Nunes; has drawn eight of 14 for the champion jockey and will carry 56kgs in the Class 5 1200m on the short course A turf. A very consistent performer, he might find it hard to win but he has found the right race and the right track so he rates a top four chance.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4525/4

1.20 a.m. (Saturday) R5 2 STAR STRIKE - App Z Zuriman (a1); jumps from gate two in the field of 12 for the Kranji Stakes D SW 1200m on the polytrack. Carrying 57kgs with the claim, he is another still acclimatising but drops back in company for this. It's his first time on the polytrack on race day but he has trialled well on the surface before and rates a top four chance.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4525/5

1.50 a.m. (Saturday) R6 1 BREAKING VAULTS - App CK Ng (a3); the first of two runners in this event for Mark Walker, this horse is one start for one win since joining the stable and will be competitive in the Class 5 1400m on the short course A turf. Dropping to 54kgs with the claim, but he is in good form and if he can get luck from his horror draw (14) he can be in a top four finish.

1.50 a.m. (Saturday) R6 4 ZAC COMMAND - Manuel Nunes; the second of the stable's runner in this event, and with a much better draw (4) this 8YO veteran carries 57kgs with the champion jockey up. Been in the stable a long time, if there was any rain before the event he would rate a winning chance, without it still a top four chance.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4525/6

2.20 a.m. (Saturday) R7 12 ROCKFAST - App CC Wong (a2); he will jump from barrier five and carries a featherweight 49kgs with the apprentice claim in the Open Benchmark 83 over 1600m on the short course A turf. With a stake of S$100,000 this runner up in the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas has gone well this prep. but does strike a very strong field here. Tonight will give a better line if he could be in Derby contention and he is one of two for the stable in this event.

2.20 a.m. (Saturday) R7 13 IKING - App CK Ng (a3); draws one outside his stablemate (6) and with his claim, carries the light weight of 47kgs. He could be a little outclassed in this field and will be more competitive when back in Class 4.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4525/7

3.20 a.m. (Saturday) R9 2 THE COSMOS - Manuel Nunes; an average draw (8) for a horse that has been above average since arriving in Singapore. Ridden by the top jockey, he carries 57kgs in the Class 4 1100m on the Polytrack. First time in visor blinkers tonight which should help him focus - he has run a lot of seconds in Singapore but they have still delivered very good prizemoney - he rates a top four chance again.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4525/9

Sunday 20 March

5.40 p.m. R1 1 DAMON - Manuel Nunes; draws nicely at barrier 3 in the S$38,000 Kranji D Stakes SW 1600m on the short course B turf. This very consistent performer is joint top-weight with 58kgs for the top jockey and dropping back to this company, blinkers on for the first time, he looks one of the stable's best chances for the weekend.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4526

6.10 p.m. R2 5 VINTAGE VERDOT - Shafiq Rusof; the first of two for the stable in the Initiation 4YO+Below WFA 1000m on the polytrack, he has drawn 5 and carries 55kgs. Whilst he didn't do a lot first prep. he has now acclimatised better and the hope is to see him running on at the end - a place chance.

6.10 p.m. R2 9 STAR GENIUS - App CK Ng (a3); the second of the stable rep's, the Starcraft filly carries only 50kgs with the apprentice claim and has drawn barrier eight. She has shown plenty of early promise and this is her first start with the stable - her trackwork has been pleasing and while 1000m might be a touch short for her, she is enjoying good form and rates a top four chance.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4526/2

6.40 p.m. R3 1 IDYLLIC SCENERY - Manuel Nunes; the son of Northern Meteor has drawn well and carried 58kgs for Nunes in the Class 4 1700m on the Polytrack. One of three stable runners to contest this race, he returns to Class 4 for the first time in some while. He rates a top four chance in a very even field.

6.40 p.m. R3 4 ROBIN HOOD - Danny Beasley; a nice winner two starts back, he draws six and has the services of the top Australian rider, carrying 57kgs. The second of Mark Walker's runners in this, he just had no luck start getting pushed up against the fence at the 600m last time and rates a top four chance.

6.40 p.m. R3 8 CLERMONT CLUB - Manuel Nunes; the top rider sticks with the last start winner who has drawn the best of the stable's trio (5). Well weighted with 52.5kgs, he has struggled in Class 4 company previously but he doesn't strike the strongest line up here - a place chance.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4526/3

7.10 p.m. R2 8 WALTER'S BAY - Manuel Nunes; he has drawn six for his debut, carrying 55kgs and faces a field of eight in the S$65,000 Initiation 4YO+Below WFA 1400m on the short course B turf. First start in Singapore, he will improve once he gets to the mile and beyond - should be running on strongly, a hopeful place chance.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4526/4

8.45 p.m. R7 2 BONJOUR BOB - App Mohd Firdaus (a2); draws the ace in a field of 12 in the S$35,000 Class 5 1200m on the short course B turf and carries 55.5kgs with the claim. He does need to improve and is likely to race in Malaysia in the future if he does not step up today.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4526/7

9.15 p.m. R8 8 FREE HAPPY - Manuel Nunes; much improved runner up last time, he faces a field of 10 and has drawn barrier seven. Carrying 56.5kgs in the S$38,000 Kranji Stakes D SW over 1600m on the short course B turf he looks well, though there look to be a couple stronger in this field he rates a top four chance.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4526/8

10.25 p.m. R10 7 OUR TOUCHE - Manuel Nunes; handy draw of three a horse that went out on a high note prior to a wind op. He is one of two in the S$60,000 Class 4 over 1000m on the Polytrack for Mark Walker. Top rider aboard, with only 53.5kgs, resumes here with sound work under his belt and he will improve with the run - a place chance.

10.25 p.m. R10 13 DREAMCATCHER - App CK Ng (a3); currently first on the ballot, if he gets a run he will jump from barrier 11 with only 47kgs on weight. Needs to drop down to Class 5 company to be competitive. The second of two nominated for this event for the stable.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4526/10

11.00 p.m. R11 12 SECRET SPICE - App CK Ng (a3); draws eight and carries 48.5kgs with the claim in the last, the S$60,000 Class 4 1200m on the short course B turf. She is another that needs to drop back a class to be competitive.

http://www.turfclub.com.sg/Racing/Pages/ViewRaceCard/4526/11