Racing: Top Te Akau riding post confirmed

It was confirmed yesterday that Michael Walker will become No 1 stable rider for the highly successful Te Akau Racing Stables from August 1.

Te Akau's Mark Walker said it was an exciting prospect not just for his stable, but for the whole of the industry.

Michael Walker is currently on contract to New Zealand trainer Paddy Busuttin in Singapore.

Walker rides at New Plymouth tomorrow and returns to Singapore to ride out his contract on Monday.

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Jamie Gillies is not putting the last two weeks down as his lucky fortnight.

Two weeks ago a newspaper, following the Lisa Cropp saga, chronicled drug detection among racing's licenceholders for the last decade and included the name J Gillies.

Jamie Gillies would like to be able to tell you the stick he has had in the last 10 days.

"It wasn't me, it is Joe Gillies, who I am sure was a trackwork rider in the Central Districts at the time."

Gillies went to Otaki races yesterday and finished last on the first of his rides, Al Burkan, and managed something marginally better on his only other mount, Awol.

To top off his "please forget" fortnight, he was unable to secure a mount for tomorrow's Ellerslie meeting.