Mark Walker back in NZ and raring to go

Trainer Mark Walker is back in New Zealand and raring to go.

Walker spent eleven years in Singapore and his distinguished career includes four Trainer Premierships in that racing jurisdiction, as well as the five New Zealand Trainer’s Premierships he achieved before relocating to Singapore.

Walker headed up the Te Akau operation at Kranji with Jamie Richards doing a superb job for the Te Akau at their home base in New Zealand, but with Richards’s pending move to Hong Kong, where he has been licensed to trained from next season, the Te Akau group has reshuffled the deck and brought Walker back to take up the reins once Richards leaves.

There will, understandably, be a transition period where the two trainers work together in New Zealand before the changes are fully affected. Richards is due to depart for Hing Kong in April.

While eagerly looking forward to all aspects of what lies ahead, Walker did point out one particular area that he was keen to be involved in again.

“I think spending time developing the babies is something I have missed the most in Singapore,” said Walker, talking to the New Zealand Racing Desk.

“Over there you pretty much have ready-made racehorses whereas here one of my greatest passions is taking the raw yearlings and bringing them through the stages of their careers.

“Working with those young horses is such a challenge and you just never know where your next Princess Coup, Darci Brahma or Probabeel is coming from.

“Educating them, putting them through their first jump-out, then trialling and eventually getting them to the races is very satisfying and something I love.

“I certainly enjoyed my time in Singapore and winning the races that we did, while I will miss the very low tax rate when it comes to looking at my bank balance.

“But coming home is special and I just can’t wait to get amongst it and training winners for Te Akau again.”