Te Akau: Walker Flying in Singapore

It hasn't taken former champion New Zealand trainer Mark Walker long to climb to the top of his profession in Singapore.

After a decorated domestic career, he headed to Asia in 2010 to establish Te Akau Stables racing operation and from humble beginnings is now reaping major rewards.

“It will be three years in September since we arrived and I don't know where the time has gone,” Walker said.

“I got here on September 3 with three horses and while it's taken a bit of adjusting, things are ticking along very well right now.”

Led by his multiple Group winner Flying Fulton, Walker has sent out 26 winners this year to enjoy a nine win premiership advantage over fellow trainers Steven Burridge (17), Michael Freedman (17), Patrick Shaw (16) and Laurie Laxon (16).

“We've already broken $1 million in stakes in the first 10 weeks and a lot of that is filtering back home,” Walker said. “It's early days yet but we've made a brilliant start to the season.

“A lot of people sat back and watched to see how we went and they are now really keen to race here. Singapore racing is heavily subsidised and the overheads are low.

“Te Akau has sent quite a few new horses up here and David (Ellis) has got a feel for Singapore racing and he knows exactly what type of horse is suited here.”

Included among the latest batch of recruitments to the Singapore stable is the stakes performer Irish Rebel and Bolshoi Ruler, a half-brother by Red Ransom to Te Akau's Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner King's Rose. They were NZ$800,000 and NZ$875,000 Karaka graduates respectively.

“They are in quarantine now and will be out next week and have both been gelded since last racing,” Walker said. “They're a bit like Flying Fulton who was a $NZ210,000 Ready to Run buy and won a Listed race at home at two and he had to be gelded. Singapore gives the owners every chance to get money back on the investment - he's won more than a million here.”

With wife Julia and children Zavier and Alexis, Walker is enjoying his Singapore experience as he bids for a trainers' premiership to go with his five New Zealand titles.

“Singapore's a very safe place to bring up children and the education system is outstanding,” he said. “As far as training horses goes, the positives far outweigh any negatives.”

CREDIT - NEW ZEALAND THOROUGHBRED MARKETING