Mark Walker is anticipating a tougher assignment for New Zealand import Time Lord on Friday night, but believes he is blessed with enough qualities to hold his own.
Brought in with July’s Singapore Derby (1800m) in mind, the Guillotine four-year-old took a closer step to that lofty target at his second-up Kranji win in a Polytrack Class 3 race over 1200m on January 6.
On that day, the Matthew Goodson-owned galloper turned out to be a winning pick-up ride for Glen Boss after original rider Azhar Ismail was stood down for a work permit issue.
Three weeks on, Time Lord will step up to 1400m in a $70,000 Class 3 race, with Boss retaining the ride. Having been slapped with a seven-point penalty after his first Singapore win, he will be shouldering a bit more weight this time – 57kgs, compared to 52.5 and 53.5kgs at his first two outings.
“He’s gone up in weight quickly, but that’s the way it goes. He’s stepped up quickly and will carry 57kgs this time,” said Walker.
“I’m happy with him. He’s a pretty straightforward horse and has settled in quickly.
“The turf won’t worry him. As there were no turf races for him earlier, he kicked off on Polytrack.
“As we’ve seen, he’s done very well on it. It’s nice if you have a horse who can handle both surfaces.”
Walker could have run Time Lord in the Class 3 race over 1200m on Polytrack on Sunday, but the availability of a turf race over seven furlongs overshadowed that option.
“He got away with a 1200m race last time because they went hard in front,” said Walker.
“The 1400m is a better option. He is also more of a miler who should do well between 1400m and 1800m here.
“He was Group 2 placed over 2100m (Valachi Downs Championship) in New Zealand. He will become a nice horse here.”
Walker instead saddles Richebourg in that 1200m race on Polytrack. Unseen since his first defeat (at his third start in a Class 3 race over 1100m) on November 4, the Real Saga four-year-old, who will be ridden by Boss as well, on paper faces a daunting task against some handy sorts like Pennywise, Siam Sapphire, Absolvido and Revolution to name a few.
But Walker is quietly confident the real Richebourg will come forward. He said it would be better to draw a line through his last start when fifth to Pennywise in a Class 3 race over 1100m run in pelting rain.
“Forget his run when there was a heavy downpour before his race. He didn’t handle the track at all,” said Walker.
“I am hoping for a better run this time.”
Walker is currently in his native New Zealand where he and partner David Ellis of Te Akau Racing have bought 25 yearlings at the annual New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Million National Yearling Sales.
“We’ve bought 25 horses so far. They will all race in New Zealand first, and we’ll see how they go,” he said.
“There is one colt by Savabeel who cost NZ$1.4 million, he is part of a stallion-making syndicate with two other colts, another Savabeel, who is out of top mare Suavito and a Written Tycoon.”
