Te Akau’s Mark Walker extended his unassailable lead in New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership when scoring a double at Awapuni’s synthetic meeting on Friday.
Redsheis kicked off proceedings when taking out the Whisker Forestry Maiden (1200m), while Stonybreck won the Whisker Forestry (1200m) a race later.
Stonybreck’s victory took Walker to 190 wins for the season, far exceeding New Zealand’s previous domestic record of 160, set by former Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards in 2020/21.
“It was a really good fresh-up effort and a lovely, intelligent ride by Parmar (Niranjan Parmar, jockey),” Walker said.
“When they went to slacken the speed, he saw it coming and he was out, off the fence, and up and around them before they even knew.
“It was a brilliant ride and the winning of the race. He’s a horse that is starting to mature now, getting a bit stronger, and relaxing so much better too.”
Now the winner of three races from eight starts, Stonybreck was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis from Pencarrow Stud’s 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Book 1 Yearling Sale for $20,000.
“He was a bargain from a really good Pencarrow Stud family of Sir Peter Vela, and beautifully bred,” Ellis said.
