Walker Won't Write Lucky Off

The Singapore Turf Club reports:

Polytrack king My Lucky Strike makes his 2016 racing debut in this Sunday's $125,000 Kranji Stakes A race over 1000m - but so does Spalato.

Champion trainer Mark Walker had long targeted that speed dash as the ideal comeback race for his recently-minted Polytrack champion and Most Improved Horse, but admitted the task has been made more arduous with Spalato fronting up for the same event.

John O'Hara's champion galloper is no Polytrack specialist, though on record, he has never been defeated on the alternative track in two tries, but his sheer presence, even with the top impost of 59.5kg, seems to have frightened off the opposition.

Besides My Lucky Strike, only four other contenders made up of Huka Falls, Happy Money, Southern Boss and Castor will take on O'Hara's eight-time winner, but Walker is under no illusions who remains the horse to beat. There are 10 kilos' difference between his horse and Spalato, but under the set weights conditions, the pull in weights is only three kilos.

“We've aimed at that race (for My Lucky Strike) for a long time. It's unfortunate it's the same race Spalato has chosen to make his comeback,” said Walker.

“My horse is fit and well and has been coming along nicely since his last run (won a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on December 4). He trialled well last week (February 2) and actually ran third to Spalato.  Obviously, Spalato is a champion horse and we will try our best against him. Anything can happen and in this game, you have to remain optimistic, anyway.”

My Lucky Strike's barrier No 1 is one factor in his corner, though it might be somewhat offset by not having regular partner Manoel Nunes - currently serving a suspension - on board. Jockey Alan Munro, who has been never ridden the Charge Forward four-year-old, will fill in.

Walker said his title defence campaign may not have got off to a sizzling start, but his team is slowing building up its momentum.

“We were expecting a slower start after last year's title-winning season, but we've had a lot of seconds, which could have turned into winners with some luck,” said the Kiwi conditioner.

“We had to get rid of some horses and a lot of the young horses have only just begun their preparation. Some of the older horses are also hitting their straps now.  I think we'll do a lot better mid-season and hopefully we can have another good year then.”

A five-time premiership winner in New Zealand, Walker knows all about the weight of expectation resting on a reigning champion trainer's shoulders. By the same token, he is not one to get too caught up with certain expectations placed on horses either.

Wonderful is one such horse Walker does not quite understand what the fuss is all about. The Hidden Dragon four-year-old won his only start in Australia when trained by premier trainer Chris Waller and ironically known as Expectation, but has yet to score in two starts at Kranji.

“He won one race at Canterbury and the form out of that race was very weak,” said Walker.

“If he came with a bit of a rap, it didn't come from us. He's in a relatively strong Class 4 race this Sunday, and he's certainly no good thing, but I hope he can run an improved race.”

Sent out as the even-money favourite at his Singapore debut on New Year's Day, Wonderful had every chance but could only run fourth to Anonymous in a Class 4 race over 1000m. He fared better next-up in a similar race, running on for second to Honest Truth.  His third start will come up in Sunday's $60,000 Class 4 race over 1200m where he will meet the likes of last-start winner Duke Of Azmaan, Vertical Start and the resuming Risky Rockefeller, a winner at his only Kranji start last August.