Chief Stipe Posted July 27, 2023 Share Posted July 27, 2023 Mark Walker brings up 200th winner – BOAY Racing News www.racenews.bitofayarn.com Mark Walker brings up 200th winner Michael McNab returns victorious aboard Angels Wings at Awapuni on Thursday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North) Mark Walker is in rarefied air after becoming the first New Zealand trainer to record 200 domestic wins in a season at Awapuni on Thursday. Te Akau’s head trainer went into the synthetic meeting requiring two wins to reach the mark and his eight-strong team duly delivered. Redsheis brought the Matamata horseman within one win, and Angels Wings brought up the double century in the colours of Fortuna Syndicate. “It’s great to get that milestone of 200 wins in a season today, and to get another win for Fortuna Racing,” Walker said. “John and Jessica Galvin, who own the business, are very good friends of everyone at Te Akau and it’s thrilling to get the 200th with one of their horses.” Walker wasn’t done for the day, with Treaty Of Paris and Star In The Sky adding to his winning haul in the subsequent two races, bringing his season tally to 202 wins. It has been a remarkable return to New Zealand racing for Mark Walker, who won five New Zealand training premierships for Te Akau before setting up stables for them at Kranji Racecourse in Singapore in 2011, where he added another four Champion Trainer titles. Te Akau principal David Ellis is proud of Walker’s achievements and the success the stable has had this season. “Karyn (Fenton-Ellis, wife) and I are very proud to have achieved this and have to thank Mark Walker and all the staff, here at the farm, and at the stables in Matamata, for all their hard work,” Ellis said. “When I won my first race in 1978, if you’d said to me that we’d have 202 wins during a season in the future I would have thought you were on something. “It’s an unbelievable thrill and the team that we’ve got, horses and people, is just incredible. Each stable has its own foreman and assistant foreman, who all communicate so well with Mark, Sam (Bergerson, incoming training partner) and Reece (Trumper, racing manager), and they’re all just very professional in their attitudes to what they do. “The four winners today – Redsheis, Angel Wings, Treaty of Paris, Star In The Sky – were sourced from different places, with one bred at Te Akau, one bought at Karaka, and two from Magic Millions. “They were all beautifully ridden by Michael McNab, who is riding in outstanding form and deserves his place at the top of the premiership, and it’s a thrill to be associated with such a great team.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 It's a numbers game. I rate the strike rate as more telling regarding training a significant team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 28, 2023 Author Share Posted July 28, 2023 20 minutes ago, holy ravioli said: It's a numbers game. I rate the strike rate as more telling regarding training a significant team. So you'd find 6.35 quite good then. Isn't it better than any Hong Kong trainer? Not to mention the 33 Group and Listed winners which is 3 times the next trainer. Which reflects in the stakes which are more than double anyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 Top it off by winning the Karaka Million next year perhaps...you heard it here first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 4 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: So you'd find 6.35 quite good then. Isn't it better than any Hong Kong trainer? Not to mention the 33 Group and Listed winners which is 3 times the next trainer. Which reflects in the stakes which are more than double anyone else. It is quite good,but not as good as a number of other domestic trainers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 28, 2023 Author Share Posted July 28, 2023 4 minutes ago, holy ravioli said: It is quite good,but not as good as a number of other domestic trainers. Not that many actually. I'd rather have the stakes and Grp wins. $41k average stakes per win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 12 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: Not that many actually. I'd rather have the stakes and Grp wins. $41k average stakes per win. That's should equal about half of what they pay for a horse & it'll only get better now the industry is throwing even more silly $$ at the only race day they think exists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 28, 2023 Author Share Posted July 28, 2023 1 hour ago, Huey said: That's should equal about half of what they pay for a horse & it'll only get better now the industry is throwing even more silly $$ at the only race day they think exists. You'd be a fool not to target over $3.5m in stakes on one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaltedMilkshake Posted July 28, 2023 Share Posted July 28, 2023 Considering the parlous state of NZ racing, if Mark Walker wasn’t training this amount of winners, then we should all give it away…it’s a team effort, so congratulations to all the hard working staff… he has access to the MOST number of horses, the BEST bred horses, the first choice of ordinary jockeys and GREAT staff, no financial worries…..so please…keep perspective… 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 3 hours ago, Chief Stipe said: You'd be a fool not to target over $3.5m in stakes on one day. Goes very nicely with the $700k worth of horse flesh they had win on the Synthetic at Awapuni on Thursday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 29, 2023 Author Share Posted July 29, 2023 20 minutes ago, Huey said: Goes very nicely with the $700k worth of horse flesh they had win on the Synthetic at Awapuni on Thursday. Your point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huey Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 13 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: Your point? The same as yours 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 29, 2023 Author Share Posted July 29, 2023 Just now, Huey said: The same as yours Sorry don't get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 Points for Black type racing. A Convincing win no matter what all the tall poppy cutters want to throw at you Chief, Congratulations from Oz anyway to the stable . And what a great finish for the season ! winning the last today with Hero Worship ! well done to that stable . be very proud of those season performances. Imperatriz = wow !! and about 20 others .. excellent performances. POS TRAINERS PTS CHANGE 1 M W WALKER 506 2 ANDREW FORSMAN 133 3 S B MARSH 127 4 S A SHARROCK 111 5 MS L LATTA 102 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 12 hours ago, Gammalite said: Points for Black type racing. A Convincing win no matter what all the tall poppy cutters want to throw at you Chief, Congratulations from Oz anyway to the stable . And what a great finish for the season ! winning the last today with Hero Worship ! well done to that stable . be very proud of those season performances. Imperatriz = wow !! and about 20 others .. excellent performances. POS TRAINERS PTS CHANGE 1 M W WALKER 506 2 ANDREW FORSMAN 133 3 S B MARSH 127 4 S A SHARROCK 111 5 MS L LATTA 102 It is not tall poppy syndrome to point out to a serial cheerleader of a stable the factors involved in achievements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 43 minutes ago, holy ravioli said: It is not tall poppy syndrome to point out to a serial cheerleader of a stable the factors involved in achievements. Fair enough. Chief can cheer-lead with the results that prove the dominance/ and or great effort of your leading stable. In our harness racing games , I've had to fight hard for the Allstars stable reputation on forums, that are similarly a dominant force with their horses . Thankfully the criticism died away and a bit more respect and appreciation has been shown past couple of years. ( Mark Purdon training the last 10 or so Auckland Cup winners ) an incredible achievement . Owns a share in this years winner too, so a great reward for a champion bloke (Look out for Nz Cup with AKUTA 🏆 this year) The main 'Factor of Achievement' , being the same as Mr Walkers , is They Are Fabulous Trainers and Horsemen, easy as that. (and well done their stable staff too) I guess you even see Criticism of the AllBlacks now and again in the rugby. why ? I don't know . Must be the 'Factors in Achievements' you speak of, that people don't like ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 29, 2023 Author Share Posted July 29, 2023 1 hour ago, holy ravioli said: It is not tall poppy syndrome to point out to a serial cheerleader of a stable the factors involved in achievements. We appreciate your posts that highlight the achievements and the factors that Te Akau have excelled in. Or do you have a more erudite analysis that you are keeping from us all that proves otherwise? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 44 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said: We appreciate your posts that highlight the achievements and the factors that Te Akau have excelled in. Or do you have a more erudite analysis that you are keeping from us all that proves otherwise? Please refer to maltedmilkshakes earlier ...post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30, 2023 Author Share Posted July 30, 2023 12 minutes ago, holy ravioli said: Please refer to maltedmilkshakes earlier ...post. I'm asking you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holy ravioli Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 2 hours ago, Gammalite said: Fair enough. Chief can cheer-lead with the results that prove the dominance/ and or great effort of your leading stable. In our harness racing games , I've had to fight hard for the Allstars stable reputation on forums, that are similarly a dominant force with their horses . Thankfully the criticism died away and a bit more respect and appreciation has been shown past couple of years. ( Mark Purdon training the last 10 or so Auckland Cup winners ) an incredible achievement . Owns a share in this years winner too, so a great reward for a champion bloke (Look out for Nz Cup with AKUTA 🏆 this year) The main 'Factor of Achievement' , being the same as Mr Walkers , is They Are Fabulous Trainers and Horsemen, easy as that. (and well done their stable staff too) I guess you even see Criticism of the AllBlacks now and again in the rugby. why ? I don't know . Must be the 'Factors in Achievements' you speak of, that people don't like ? The big factor you didn't mention is the HORSE! The likes of Takeover Target , Veandercross and many more whose trainers were novices still had great success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30, 2023 Author Share Posted July 30, 2023 2 hours ago, holy ravioli said: The big factor you didn't mention is the HORSE! The likes of Takeover Target , Veandercross and many more whose trainers were novices still had great success. Yeah even a taxi driver can train a champion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gammalite Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 2 hours ago, holy ravioli said: The big factor you didn't mention is the HORSE! The likes of Takeover Target , Veandercross and many more whose trainers were novices still had great success. Yes indeed ,It's the total proof of how good these Trainers in question are. The Te Akau operation , Like Allstars ,(and Roy and Barry P prior) and like Goldolphin ,and like Chris Waller and a few of those trainers we saw winning at Royal Ascot too , just keep getting Big race performers Every year. Lots of different Horses too. That's what makes them the elite . It's Not just a one horse wonder . these boys are like the Beatles or Elvis lol... hit after hit. 🕺 This Sheer volume of Winners of Big Races and success stories DOES make these guys the best there is .. where-as >>> Takeover Target and Veandercross were 'flukes' really . Amidst a galaxy of thoroughbreds being bred ( as were Gammalite and Village Kid in harness racing, both whom were trained by owner-trainers to Millions $'s , and near 100 wins each). But a great effort by those 4 x examples to compete at World class level for extended periods too. A Great Training feat and accomplishments achieved by those individual horses, by their connections as you suggest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curious Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 I agree both ways but remember that getting the cattle is part of the skill of being a successful trainer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tesio Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 Te Akau starters last season 753 (33 black type wins) Te Akau starters this season 1290 (33 black type wins) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Stipe Posted July 30, 2023 Author Share Posted July 30, 2023 18 minutes ago, Tesio said: Te Akau starters last season 753 (33 black type wins) Te Akau starters this season 1290 (33 black type wins) 28 black type wins last year not 33. Do your figures include OZ black type? What's your point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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