Racing: Trainer fined, suspended over false papers

It was not an easy decision, but Mark Walker's penalty is a fair result.

It was announced last night that Walker has been suspended for four months and fined $5000 as a result of three charges over the authenticity of papers presented for Warm Regards to run in a jumpers' flat race at Te Aroha in May.

Not everyone will agree with the decision.

Some feel a disqualification is appropriate, particularly as one of the charges was lying to a racecourse detective.

Making the case even more awkward was the fact Walker is employed by Te Akau Racing Stables, whose principal, David Ellis, is a board member of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing which brought the charges.

Though it was not the central charge, lying to a racecourse detective is the serious part of what Walker did.

In an industry in which honesty and integrity are so important, that is huge.

But you need to spend only five minutes with Mark Walker to know honesty and integrity are what he's all about.

Walker was frozen by stress when confronted, down a cellphone in Brisbane, by racecourse inspector John McKenzie, the day of the Te Aroha races.

Walker knew Warm Regards did not have the qualifying jumping ticket to race at Te Aroha. Warm Regards had a jumping ticket which expired only a few days before and this was a flat race, so if you want to be pedantic it mattered technically, but in real terms it mattered not at all.

One and a half hours after Warm Regards finished fifth at Te Aroha, Walker, busy with a racing team at the Queensland winter carnival, called John McKenzie and owned up.

"I have always accepted I made a serious error of judgment, and I must accept my punishment for a mistake I greatly regret," said Walker last night.

"I want to thank the many people who have offered me support and encouragement over recent weeks. I am particularly grateful to David Ellis for the faith he has shown in me for his decision to re-employ me at the end of my term of suspension."

At the time of the incident Walker was vying for the lead in the trainers' premiership and eventually finished second to the Graeme Rogerson/ Keith Hawtin partnership.

David Ellis said last night that he would take over the trainer's licence to manage Te Akau Racing Stakes until Walker's return, just before Christmas.

The stable will be represented by class mare Integrate in the $100,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes at Hastings on Saturday.

"I feel deeply for Mark, said Ellis. "I know it is his wish to put this momentary lapse behind him as quickly as possible and he has my total support.

"We are fortunate at Te Akau to have Paul Carr, one of the best stable managers in the industry.

"Paul ran the stable when Mark was in Australia earlier this year."

If a body language expert wanted to do an off-the-wall study they should have a look at Sunline.

There was plenty of language available watching Sunline blitz the $A200,000 Manikato Stakes field on Saturday, but what was interesting was that it was different language.

Different from last season. More arrogant.

Arrogance is forgiven in racehorses. It transmits into dollars.

Sunline has always raced fiercely on the speed and pressed on relentlessly from the home turn, but in the Manikato the fierceness was replaced by an air of invincibility.

It was: "I dare you to challenge me."

The frightening factor is Sunline looks better now that at any previous stage of her fabulous career. The Manikato was not the best field she has met, but the way she accomplished the task said she has reached a new level.

"In the autumn she raced better than at any previous stage and I think this race says she is probably better again," said co-trainer Stephen McKee in Melbourne yesterday.

"She seems a bit stronger.

The ease of the win staggered McKee.

"We were sort of expecting a win, but we thought she would be starting to wilt in the last 150m.

"We didn't expect her to win like that."

We all want Sunline to win the Cox Plate again, but let's hope even more can be achieved this time.

There is no question the image of the Kiwi galloper in the Northern Hemisphere, tenuous at best, was damaged when Sunline failed after starting hot favourite and leading in the Hong Kong Cup last December.

You could almost hear the: "Oh yes, here we go again" from northern cynics.

This time, how great it would be for Sunline to win the Cox Plate with Nothern Hemipshere guns like Green Dance and Fantastic Light trailing in her wake.

Then even more arrogance would be forgiven.

You won't be surprised by this, Noel Eales is worried about rain for Hastings on Saturday.

Eales is sitting on a fit-and-ready Tall Poppy for the $100,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes, but as usual is terrified as he looks for rain clouds.

Hawkes Bay Racing yesterday had the Hastings track at 2.3 firm.

"Let's hope the rain they've forecast stays away."

Tall Poppy looked very impressive winning a recent barrier trial, but Eales says the mare will not be at Hastings if the track is worse than easy.

Cent Home, Cheiron, Integrate, Kaapstad Way, Cinder Bella and The Message add to what will be a fabulous race.