Te Akau Singapore Swings into Winning Action

Second on the premiership table last season in Singapore, Te Akau Singapore trainer Donna Logan recorded a double on Saturday at Kranji Racecourse.

Training since 2018 in Singapore, Logan joined the team, taking over from Mark Walker on 1 January 2022, and finished the season (calendar year) with 59 wins - six off the winner.

Rated a good top three chance by Logan in the $50,000 Class 4 1200 metres on turf, Aftermath (5 g Spirit of Boom - Elusive Gift, by Elusive City) settled for an economical trip three back inner for Champion Jockey Manoel Nunes and dashed home after getting clear late.

Scoring by a neck on good footing, he ran 1200 metres in 1:10.3 and paid $2.20 & $1.00 on the NZ TAB tote.

Purchased by David Ellis CNZM for $110,000 at the 2020 Inglis September Online Sale, and syndicated by Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, Aftermath carries a nicely balanced cross of super sire Danehill through his dam lines.

Continuing to improve with age, Aftermath was a course/distance winner last August, was runner-up five times since and now won $117,258 stake earnings.

Two races later, Knippenberg (3 g I Am Invincible - Red Fez, by Red Ransom), having his first start in Singapore, scored on fresh-up in the $75,000 Restricted Maiden 1200 metres on turf.

Ridden by Ronnie Stewart, he moved to second nearing the home turn, quickened to advantage mid-straight and drew clear to win comfortably.

Winning by one and three-quarter lengths, he ran 1200 metres in 1:10.3 and paid $6.00 & $2.40 on the NZ TAB tote.

Knippenberg was bought for $32,500 at the 2022 Inglis June (Late) Online Sale by Fortuna Racing (Mgr: John Galvin) and is owned by Fortuna NZ Racing Stable.

The win came on the heels of Leaderboard (Street Cry), owned by Fortuna and trained by Mark Walker, winning the Wellington Cup (Gr. 3, 3200m) at Trentham.

A lucrative scene, especially with owner rebates for horses racing, subsidised vetting and no transport costs, Te Akau continues to enjoy an enormous amount of success in Singapore.

During his time training for Te Akau at Kranji Racecourse, Mark Walker was Singapore Champion Trainer in 2015, 2017 (record 87 wins), 2019, and 2021 with 66 wins, and was also runner-up three times, third, and fourth.