Trainer Mark Walker could not have wished for a better start after landing an early double on Sunday.
Walker got the day off to the perfect start when Affirmation won the $35,000 Class 5 Stakes over 1200m before Lord Roberto took out the following event, the $65,000 Initiation Stakes over 1600m.
Both races were run on the Polytrack.
Jockey Alan Munro does a good job to steer Lord Roberto to his first success on Sunday, picture Singapore Turf Club
The double took Walker’s tally of winners for 2012 to 24, placing him in 12th position on the Trainer’s Premiership Table.
For Affirmation the victory was hard fought and the six-year-old son of Fastnet Rock appreciated getting back to Class 5 company.
Ridden by Ivaldo Santana, Affirmation scored a half-length victory over Ninth Avenue (John Sundradas) with Bull Shot (Joao Moreira) the same distance away in third place.
A NZ$700,000 yearling purchase, Affirmation has now won around $125,000 in prizeemoney from his three wins and five minor placings from 34 starts in Singapore.
“Dropping back to Class 5 class suited him today,” said Walker. “He had been racing well in Class 4 grade but he can be a bit unpredictable.
“Just when you thought he was capable of winning in the higher grade he would put in a poor one.
“That’s his right grade today and I thought he did the job well.”
Walker believes his second winner Lord Roberto has a promising future in Singapore after recording a solid win.
Ridden by Alan Munro, Lord Roberto scored by a length-and-a-half from Speed Machine (Barend Vorster) with Tiger Tzar (Greg Cheyne) a length back in third spot.
Walker said Lord Roberto was still immature and believes he will be a better horse next time in.
“I think we’ll put him out now for six weeks,” said Walker.
“He’s done a good job today as he was caught a little wide most of the way.
“I think he’s a nice horse. Next preparation and once he matures a bit more I think he could be a pretty handy stayer.
Munro, a former English Derby winner jockey, also has a healthy opinion of the four-year-old.
He was forced to cover ground leaving the straight on the first occasion and was no closer than three wide for the majority of the journey.
“The idea was to ride him like a stayer,” said Munro. “We drew wide but I didn’t want to be gunning him early in the race by going forward.
“He was still a bit green. He’s still learning what racing is about but once he matures a bit I think he could be an exciting prospect later on.”
An Australian bred by Encosta De Lago from the Prized mare Prized Glory, Lord Roberto was a NZ$100,000 yearling purchase.
After placing once from three starts in New Zealand, Lord Roberto arrived in Singapore back in March and from three starts that has netted a win and a second placing, he has acquired more than $45,000 in prizemoney for connections – Fortune NZ Racing.