Walker off the mark with a double

SINGAPORE:  Nov 14, 2010
 
RIO FORTUNE provides Mark Walker with his first winner in
Singapore - SNTC photo
CORSAGE gives Mark Walker a memorable double on Gold Cup day

Five-time New Zealand champion trainer Mark Walker is off the mark at Kranji, just a little over two months after he arrived in Singapore in a move "that made perfect business sense".

With just 18 horses in work at the moment, it was his eighth runner at Kranji, the aptly-named RIO FORTUNE (Captain Rio - Bahira by Volksraad) who achieved the breakthrough for Walker in the Class 3 - 1200m sprint on the biggest day on the local racing calendar - Gold Cup day.

"It's always a relief to get that first winner out of the way wherever you are," said the trainer. RIO FORTUNE had chalked up three wins for him in New Zealand prior to coming to Singapore.

But Walker wasted no time to double the tally when CORSAGE (Volksraad - Spray by Entrepreneur) followed up in the next race to win the Novice - 1400m sprint.

"She's been a bit unlucky at home. She was placed in a Group 1 race which she should have won," said Walker. He was referring to the mare third placing behind KAAPSTAN in the Ford Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie. The mare, who has one win in New Zealand, was also fourth to KATIE LEE in the Group 1 New 2000 Guineas.

Walker nearly made it a dream day but for TELL A TALE going down second to RISKY BUSINESS in the S$1.35mil Singapore Gold Cup in just the gelding's third start in Singapore.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE

1

 INITIATION - 1600M

8

 Fabulous Knight S Gray R Fradd

1

9

 My Race D Koh K K Ng

2

3

 Vedere D Kok Y F Leong

3

12

 Silent Faith S Burridge R Stewart

4

2

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN, DIV 2 - 1200M

10

 Sulmona M Clements R Stewart

1

1

 Always Happy P Shaw B Vorster

2

2

 Rocket Express T Kieser J Moreira

3

3

 Dynasty Knight D Kok Y F Leong

4

3

 KRANJI STAKES B - 1400M

1

 Best Knight B Dean J Powell

1

4

 Hopkins L Laxon J Moreira

2

3

 Dittatore P Shaw B Vorster

3

6

 Collect The Cash J Meagher S Cormack

4

4

 RESTRICTED MAIDEN, DIV 1 - 1200M

8

 Tiger Warrior S Burridge G Boss

1

11

 Princess Eunice D Koh T Rehaizat

2

3

 American Tycoon J Meagher Soo

3

1

 Sir Fleetwood L Laxon Saimee

4

5

 CLASS 3 - 1200M

9

 Rio Fortune M Walker J Powell

1

4

 Dictator J Meagher Soo

2

11

 Anak Lutong H K Tan J See

3

10

 Swagger P Shaw B Vorster

4

6

 NOVICE - 1400M

7

 Corsage M Walker V Duric

1

10

 Peaceful Warrior S Burridge G Boss

2

13

 Ace Alarde M Freedman D Beasley

3

4

 Blasting Torpedo D Kok Y F Leong

4

7

 CLASS 4 - 2200M

4

 Hint S Burridge D Beasley

1

5

 Maraeti L Laxon Saimee

2

3

 Street Legal J Meagher R Stewart

3

8

 Shiny Thunder H Takaoka B Vorster

4

8

 CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M

1

 Knight Spirit B Dean J Powell

1

3

 Silveron Wings K C Yeoh B Vorster

2

6

 Doremi La M Yusof A Fiezan

3

8

 My Lead L Laxon J Moreira

4

9

 SINGAPORE GOLD CUP - 2200M

10

 Risky Business S Burridge G Boss

1

6

 Tell A Tale M Walker S John

2

3

 Big Maverick L Laxon V Duric

3

11

 Zac Missile M Freedman D Beasley

4

10

 KRANJI STAKES C - 1800M

7

 Martial Art L Laxon Saimee

1

5

 Fatkid H K Tan Soo

2

3

 Storm Chispazo B Marcus S Cormack

3

2

 Esteem Power S Burridge V Duric

4

11

 CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M

8

 Martel L Laxon Saimee

1

14

 Five Claws S Burridge R Stewart

2

2

 Prince Pareto J Meagher S Cormack

3

10

 Holtmail P Shaw B Vorster

4