Mark Walker Sets new Kiwi Win Benchmark

Te Akau trainer Mark Walker set a New Zealand national record for wins in a season when Fellini won the NZB Online Yearling Sale On Gavelhouse Plus 1400 for 3YOs at Pukekohe on Saturday. The victory provided the Matamata horseman with win #161 of the season, including five at Group 1 level and 31 lack-type triumphs. The previous mark of 160 was set by predecessor Jamie Richards in season 2020/21, and with the best part of four months to go in the season it is likely Walker will reach an imposing tally. It was the fourth career victory from 12-starts for Fellini, who finished third in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m) behind Dynastic and Wolverine. Walker won five premierships between 1997 and 2010 during his first stint for Te Akau, adding four Champion Trainer titles during 10 years training for the operation in Singapore. It has been a season of milestones for Walker, who recorded his thousandth domestic career win when Zourion, subsequent Gr2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) winner, scored on debut at Taupo in February. “New Zealand is always home and I’m happy to be back training here. I certainly don’t regret going to train in Singapore, and financially it was the best thing I’d ever done. It set the family up for life, basically,” Walker said. “Obviously, with Jamie (Richards) going to Hong Kong it was the right thing to do, coming home to give the team a hand.”

Mark Walker has set a new kiwi training record with 3 months still to run (pic: Trish Dunell)