3 minute read
A pick-up ride saw a duo who team up only sporadically turn back the clock in the $75,000 Novice race over 1200m on Sunday – trainer Mark Walker and jockey John Powell.
Interestingly, it’s Powell who actually gave Walker his first ever Singapore winner, Rio Fortune on November 14, 2010, even adding a second win to the tally six months later with Beat To Quarters.
But the associations between the Kiwi handler and the Australian heavyweight jockey had been few and far between since.\
It was only after Vlad Duric was stood down due to illness on Sunday that a yawning eight-year gap was finally filled. From the Singapore champion jockey’s book of five rides, Walker had Federation in the Novice, opting for Powell for the replacement job.
The Written Tycoon three-year-old is not all that easy to ride, but the veteran jockey’s silky hands produced the $17 shot at the right time for a brilliant three-quarter length win from Green Star (Ben Thompson) with Axel (Benny Woodworth) third another neck away. The winning time was 1min 10.29secs for the 1200m on the Long Course.
Walker was obviously delighted that a rare opportunity to recombine with Powell came to fruition with victory, but doubted it would be the trigger to more partnerships, simply because of the tight allegiances that exist between jockeys and their main stables.
“JP is a jockey I’ve always rated highly. Besides he gave me my first win here with Rio Fortune,” said Walker.
“Unfortunately, JP is a stable rider to Shane Baertschiger, and on my end, I have to support the boys who ride trackwork for me.
“That’s why I don’t get a lot of chances to give JP a ride, but with Vlad down today, there were three or four riders available for the Federation ride - and JP is the one riding the best.”
The experienced jockey’s tactical nous was certainly a big factor in Sunday’s win.
“This horse has a great second-up record. It was probably a trainer blue at his last start – he was fresh-up and the blinkers went on,” said Walker.
“He pulled too hard. JP was mindful of that, when the horse wanted to charge a little bit, he made sure he came back underneath him.
“It’s a bit of cover that he needs. He can’t be out in the open as he tends to roll on.
“In Australia, he bowled along and if he can relax, he’ll be a good horse in the future. He’s a big horse, but physically, he’s still a bit weak.”
Powell did say the Fortuna NZ Racing Stable-owned galloper was a little at sea in the home straight, but once he got on top of him, the penny dropped inside the last 200m.
“I’m just the lucky jockey to get the ride. I hope Vlad recovers quickly,” said Powell.
“The horse settled nicely behind the speed in midfield and was very strong to the line.
“He got a bit lost but once a horse came to his outside, he stretched out again. He’s got size on his side, it’s just the mindset which is not quite there.
“I think he can climb the ladder quite fast here.”
That second win, coupled with his debut second has tipped his prizemoney level over the $100,000 mark for the Fortuna NZ Racing Stable.
In that race, $14 favourite Winning Hobby (Krisna Thangamani) was declared a non-starter after the front gates of his barrier opened a fraction late, thus denying him of a fair start.
