Awatere
Singapore Turf Club
Trainer Mark Walker was extremely pleased for New Zealand owner Craig Forsyth after he was able to taste his first success in Singapore on Sunday.
A part-owner under the David Ellis's Te Akau Stable banner since 2005, Forsyth decided it was high time to venture out on his own in Singapore and quite logically sent his first runner Awatere to Ellis's exclusive trainer at Kranji.
After only three outings, the Charge Forward three-year-old already had the foot on the till, producing late in an Initiation event over 1200m three weeks ago to finish only 1 ΒΌ lengths off stablemate Mighty Conqueror.
Walker stepped him up in distance in Sunday's $75,000 Flax 2014 Stakes, a Restricted Maiden race over 1400m, and with champion jockey Manoel Nunes back from suspension, hungrier than ever, Forsyth could record his first Singapore winner.
Awatere, however, looked under the pump when Nunes was seen hard at work bustling the $15 favourite up to keep up with the leading pair of Kubera's Warrior (Glen Boss) and favourite Johnny Kongos (Derreck David) to the home turn.
Johnny Kongos looked to be travelling better when he hit the front upon straightening while Awatere was not far behind, but was proving a bit of a handful.
The last 100m turned into a real slog to the wire between the two with Awatere lifting late to down Johnny Kongos by a head with Commando Eclipse (Corey Brown) running on late for third on the outside, another length away. The winning time was 1min 24.61secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
"It's the first winner for the Forsyth family. David Ellis bought this horse for NZ$50,000 out of Karaka," said Walker.
"He was physically weak when he first came but he is going to be a nice horse with more time. He just ground away to a nice solid win today."
Walker, who saddled Friday's last winner thanks to Mighty Conqueror, said that second September winner was a sign the tide was turning after enduring a quiet time during his stables renovation.
"It's been two weeks since we went back to our stables, and we can feel the difference already. It was a nightmare being in the other barn," said Walker, who currently sits third on the premiership on 49 winners, five short of Alwin Tan.
Nunes, who was back on top of the heap on 50 winners, which is the same score as the suspended Vlad Duric, said Awatere was still a work in progress but was definitely a competitor with some upsides.
"He's still learning. He was not travelling very well midrace and I think blinkers will help him next time out," said the Brazilian hoop.
"Last time, he got checked and today I think the 1400m helped him as well. He got a bit tired in the end, but he fought hard to catch Derreck's horse.
"Once he learns what racing is all about, he will become a nice horse."
A part-owner under the David Ellis's Te Akau Stable banner since 2005, Forsyth decided it was high time to venture out on his own in Singapore and quite logically sent his first runner Awatere to Ellis's exclusive trainer at Kranji.
After only three outings, the Charge Forward three-year-old already had the foot on the till, producing late in an Initiation event over 1200m three weeks ago to finish only 1 ΒΌ lengths off stablemate Mighty Conqueror.
Walker stepped him up in distance in Sunday's $75,000 Flax 2014 Stakes, a Restricted Maiden race over 1400m, and with champion jockey Manoel Nunes back from suspension, hungrier than ever, Forsyth could record his first Singapore winner.
Awatere, however, looked under the pump when Nunes was seen hard at work bustling the $15 favourite up to keep up with the leading pair of Kubera's Warrior (Glen Boss) and favourite Johnny Kongos (Derreck David) to the home turn.
Johnny Kongos looked to be travelling better when he hit the front upon straightening while Awatere was not far behind, but was proving a bit of a handful.
The last 100m turned into a real slog to the wire between the two with Awatere lifting late to down Johnny Kongos by a head with Commando Eclipse (Corey Brown) running on late for third on the outside, another length away. The winning time was 1min 24.61secs for the 1400m on the Short Course.
"It's the first winner for the Forsyth family. David Ellis bought this horse for NZ$50,000 out of Karaka," said Walker.
"He was physically weak when he first came but he is going to be a nice horse with more time. He just ground away to a nice solid win today."
Walker, who saddled Friday's last winner thanks to Mighty Conqueror, said that second September winner was a sign the tide was turning after enduring a quiet time during his stables renovation.
"It's been two weeks since we went back to our stables, and we can feel the difference already. It was a nightmare being in the other barn," said Walker, who currently sits third on the premiership on 49 winners, five short of Alwin Tan.
Nunes, who was back on top of the heap on 50 winners, which is the same score as the suspended Vlad Duric, said Awatere was still a work in progress but was definitely a competitor with some upsides.
"He's still learning. He was not travelling very well midrace and I think blinkers will help him next time out," said the Brazilian hoop.
"Last time, he got checked and today I think the 1400m helped him as well. He got a bit tired in the end, but he fought hard to catch Derreck's horse.
"Once he learns what racing is all about, he will become a nice horse."