Chief Stipe Posted January 26 Posted January 26 ‘New challenge': Walker reveals full-time move to Australia Trainer Mark Walker By Adam Dobbin 10:28am • 27 January 2025 0 Comments In a boon for Australian racing, New Zealand-based Te Akau Racing head trainer Mark Walker is making the full-time move across the Tasman from February. Walker, fresh off winning the Karaka Millions 2YO Classic in New Zealand on Saturday with La Dorado, makes the move to Australia to head up Te Akau Racing's picturesque base at Cranbourne. "I'll be located at Cranbourne full-time from the start of February," Walker said in an exclusive interview with Ladbrokes. "In this game you've always got to keep challenging yourself and the time is right for me now to make the move. "Had I stayed in New Zealand it's hard to keep doing the same thing over and over so this is a fresh, new challenge that I'm really excited about. "It was always the intention to ultimately move across (to Australia) and be based here full-time. "At Cranbourne we started with 20 boxes, then 30 before 50 and now we're at 70 which will be our number. "At 70 you can see every horse every day and give the owner's investment every opportunity to succeed. "And as for the complex, it looks fantastic. We are very proud of how it has all come together." Having served successful training stints in New Zealand and 11-years in Singapore during a career spanning three decades, Walker heads to Australian shores under no illusions as to the size of the task ahead. "I know it's not going to be a walk in the park by any stretch," Walker said. "But we're going to rip in, work hard and look to capitalise on the strong foundation that's already been laid." Te Akau Racing has enjoyed a successful upstart in Australia during its first 16 months in operation at Cranbourne. That was of course led by the remarkable exploits of champion sprinter Imperatriz which took Australian racing by storm prior to her retirement in the autumn of last year. Read all news by Adam Dobbin Quote
Huey Posted January 26 Posted January 26 Good stuff, I wish him all the best. Will your one be going there @Chief Stipe? Quote
Chief Stipe Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 3 minutes ago, Huey said: Good stuff, I wish him all the best. Will your one be going there @Chief Stipe? Since you know everything I'm sure you know the answer to that question. Good move by Walker though. The setup at Cranbourne is first class and the tracks in Victoria are the best in Australasia. Quote
Huey Posted January 26 Posted January 26 2 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Since you know everything I'm sure you know the answer to that question. Good move by Walker though. The setup at Cranbourne is first class and the tracks in Victoria are the best in Australasia. Brilliant move for him , very good trainer and will be appreciated over there. I guess you'd have to say they have the stock over there now. Hopefully he can win a G1 with yours. Quote
Chief Stipe Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 2 minutes ago, Huey said: Brilliant move for him , very good trainer and will be appreciated over there. I guess you'd have to say they have the stock over there now. More arriving next week so I hear. Good move for their owners as well as it is getting harder to plan progammes for horses at some levels. 2 Quote
Chief Stipe Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 Win a maiden race at a metro track in OZ and you pay your trainers fees for over a year! Quote
Huey Posted January 26 Posted January 26 6 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Win a maiden race at a metro track in OZ and you pay your trainers fees for over a year! Hmmm not sure if thats right, I've heard some fairly hefty bills across the Tasman. Quote
Chief Stipe Posted January 26 Author Posted January 26 9 minutes ago, Huey said: Hmmm not sure if thats right, I've heard some fairly hefty bills across the Tasman. Yeah from the naysayers. You should stop listening to them. $71k maidens today at Warwick Farm. 1 1 Quote
Huey Posted January 26 Posted January 26 35 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Yeah from the naysayers. You should stop listening to them. $71k maidens today at Warwick Farm. 62.5% of 71k ain't a years training in Aus Quote
curious Posted January 26 Posted January 26 8 minutes ago, Huey said: 62.5% of 71k ain't a years training in Aus Be lucky to cover a year's costs for one here. 1 Quote
Chief Stipe Posted January 27 Author Posted January 27 24 minutes ago, curious said: Be lucky to cover a year's costs for one here. Which is the point isn't it. What's 62.5% of $18k by comparison? Quote
Huey Posted January 27 Posted January 27 5 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Which is the point isn't it. What's 62.5% of $18k by comparison? Is someone racing for $18k over there today? Quote
Chief Stipe Posted January 27 Author Posted January 27 Just now, Huey said: Is someone racing for $18k over there today? Are you thick? Or are you in the post rest home cooked dinner fog? Quote
Huey Posted January 27 Posted January 27 10 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Are you thick? Or are you in the post rest home cooked dinner fog? So they are racing for $18k in Aus, seems strange we are racing for $18k in NZ as well and we were talking about Aus. prizemoney & training fees . Perhaps Aus & NZ have more in common that we think? Quote
Chief Stipe Posted January 27 Author Posted January 27 34 minutes ago, Huey said: So they are racing for $18k in Aus, seems strange we are racing for $18k in NZ as well and we were talking about Aus. prizemoney & training fees . Perhaps Aus & NZ have more in common that we think? FFS you're taking the piss now. I was referring to the maiden stakes in NZ!! You get more than that in the OZ country. Quote
TAB For Ever Posted January 27 Posted January 27 Not quite on the topic , but sort of.....it was nice to see Winx's 'principal' owner bringing her horse to race at Ellerslie on Karaka day ! 3 Quote
Jim Green Posted January 27 Posted January 27 Its seems That Huey bought into a Dud at Te Akau and has never forgiven them and CS has a share and Is looking for a free months training. The back and forth ribbing is providing good entertainment for us reading so keep it going. As long as it stays as it is and doesnt get childish it provides a chuckle for the readers Thanks both of you. I take it all as tongue in cheek. 2 1 1 Quote
Huey Posted January 27 Posted January 27 33 minutes ago, Jim Green said: Its seems That Huey bought into a Dud at Te Akau and has never forgiven them and CS has a share and Is looking for a free months training. The back and forth ribbing is providing good entertainment for us reading so keep it going. As long as it stays as it is and doesnt get childish it provides a chuckle for the readers Thanks both of you. I take it all as tongue in cheek. I think we will all enjoy finding out what @Chief Stipe has taken a share in at this sale @Jim Green , he doesn't get much wrong so exciting times ahead for us all ! Quote
Chief Stipe Posted January 27 Author Posted January 27 1 hour ago, Huey said: I think we will all enjoy finding out what @Chief Stipe has taken a share in at this sale @Jim Green , he doesn't get much wrong so exciting times ahead for us all ! Done alright in the last 5 years. Quote
Special Agent Posted January 27 Posted January 27 11 hours ago, Huey said: Hmmm not sure if thats right, I've heard some fairly hefty bills across the Tasman. Yes Huey, I have also spoken to some who own horses racing in Australia, and it's not cheap to race out of an Aussie stable. 1 Quote
Special Agent Posted January 27 Posted January 27 (edited) I don't think the news of Mark being full time in Australia is a surprise but, what does it mean for the training partnership? Do the stables become two entities now? Edited January 27 by Special Agent Quote
Chief Stipe Posted January 27 Author Posted January 27 8 hours ago, Special Agent said: Yes Huey, I have also spoken to some who own horses racing in Australia, and it's not cheap to race out of an Aussie stable. The stakes are a magnitude better, the opportunities are more numerous and the tracks are a 100 times better. All wins for the owner. Even if it is 25% more expensive isn't it better to have a chance to safely race your horse when you choose rather than partake in the local NZ lottery? Quote
curious Posted January 27 Posted January 27 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: The stakes are a magnitude better, the opportunities are more numerous and the tracks are a 100 times better. All wins for the owner. Even if it is 25% more expensive isn't it better to have a chance to safely race your horse when you choose rather than partake in the local NZ lottery? 25% is a bit of an understatement. Waller's basic daily rate is $A180. That's double or more most NZ trainers. The rest I agree with. Edited January 27 by curious Quote
Chief Stipe Posted January 27 Author Posted January 27 6 hours ago, Special Agent said: I don't think the news of Mark being full time in Australia is a surprise but, what does it mean for the training partnership? Do the stables become two entities now? No. Nothing has changed other than Mark will be based full-time in OZ. Not much different to the top OZ Trainers having permanent stables in 2 or 3 States. Quote
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