An expansion of Te Akau Racing’s Cranbourne base will prompt champion trainer Mark Walker to move to Victoria within the next 12 months.
Walker confirmed that Te Akau has come to an agreement with the Cranbourne Turf Club to build 50 new boxes in 2024, taking the operation’s capacity at Victoria’s largest training centre to 70 horses.
Ben Gleeson has been running the Cranbourne stable since it opened earlier in the racing season and from it, Imperatriz dominated the spring with three Group 1 victories.
Walker’s training partner Sam Bergerson will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of Te Akau’s New Zealand base once Walker makes the move across the Tasman.
Speaking from Melbourne, where he is overseeing the final preparations for Imperatriz’s first-up run in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m), Walker said his move has been backed by Te Akau’s boss David Ellis.
“I’m really happy with how the Cranbourne base has been operating,” Walker said.
“With the challenge involved in it all – we’re going to build another 50 boxes – we want to have a serious presence here and I want to be around for that.
“I was the one who initially said to David (Ellis) and Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) after we broke all the records (in New Zealand) last year that it was probably the right thing to do for our owners, for me to base myself in Melbourne.
“I discussed it with them and they said that if I wanted to have a crack, they would back me.
“Sam Bergerson came into the partnership this year and he’s going really well, so we’ll still have the partnership together and still have a big focus on New Zealand racing.
“Instead of three weeks in New Zealand and one week here, it’ll be three-and-a-half weeks here (Melbourne) and a few days in New Zealand every month.”
Meanwhile, modern technology has kept Walker up to date with how star mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) has been progressing, however there is nothing like seeing her in the flesh.
A gallop at The Valley gallop was the last serious piece of work for Imperatriz ahead of the Gr.1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday where she is expected to meet seven rivals.
It has been well documented that Imperatriz has been struggling in the hot conditions in Melbourne of late, but Walker and his Australian staff, headed by Gleeson, have adopted tactics in a bid to overcome that issue.
A trip to the pool at the Cranbourne training centre each afternoon and the addition of some extra fans have helped Imperatriz remain calm.
Walker trained in Singapore for 11 years where it was hot and humid every day, and while some ideas can be adapted, mostly a change in Melbourne’s weather will bring the best relief.
“I’d been getting video updates on a regular basis and modern technology is pretty good, so I knew how well she was coming along,” Walker said.
“So, I wasn’t too concerned.
“It’s hot in Singapore every day whereas on Wednesday it’s dropping down to 20 degrees, so it’s quite a bit different.
“It was a matter of getting some extra fans for her just to make her comfortable. Those seem to have work and she’s a lot more settled and swimming is part of her regular routine.”
Success on Saturday would be Imperatriz’s fourth Group one win in her last five starts.
She went through the spring undefeated, but Walker is not expecting Saturday’s race to be an easy assignment.
“They certainly don’t give Group Ones away,” he said.
“Anyone of those horses in the nominations could easily win that race on Saturday.”
