MICHAEL WALKER LOOKING FOR REDEMPTION AS PRINCE OF ARRAN GETS SET FOR THE HONG KONG VASE

By Darren Winningham | Friday, December 6, 2019

Michael Walker has landed in Hong Kong seeking redemption!

The 35-year-old jockey who has ridden in Hong Kong as a teenager returns to ride Prince of Arran for English trainer Charlie Fellows in the HK$20 million Hong Kong Vase (Group 1).

He rode the seven-year-old gelding in the same race last year and could only manage eighth place in a truly international field of runners from around the globe.

Since then Walker has had a unique association with Prince of Arran. The pair have never been out of the placings in six Australian starts with Walker always giving the gelding every chance.

He has won the 2018 Hotham Handicap and 2019 Geelong Cup on the horse and has been placed twice in the past two Herbert Power Stakes, and, most famously, has been placed in the past two Melbourne Cups – this year in controversial circumstances.

That race finish and its aftermath turned into an unpleasant experience for Walker, particular when he was subjected to a barrage of social media torment by those faceless keyboard warriors who came out of the woodwork flinging mud after the race … but now, thankfully that is all past tense and, if anything, that episode has only made him more determine to set the record straight in Hong Kong.

"The main thing is that I would love to do it for Charlie (Fellowes) and the owners and strapper Natasha (Eaton) and the whole team because when they bring the horse here to Melbourne, they could put anyone on," Walker said.

"It would mean everything to be able to repay them by winning that race for them."

The horse has thrived since leaving Australia and making Sha Tin home for the last few weeks. Natasha Eaton has overseen the preparation whilst in Hong Kong and reports that Prince of Arran will be ready to show his best on Sunday.

She rode him on Wednesday morning at track work on Wednesday morning at Sha Tin and he set the course alight with a stunning solo gallop at the end of some solid pacework.

His splits would have done a Hong Kong Sprint contender justice, skipping home the last 600m in 35.32, the last 400m in 22.6 and the final 200m in 10.84.

That track work will have topped him off well for Sunday – bring on the Hong Kong Vase (Group 1).

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