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The Mark Walker-trained Flying Fulton will be out to achieve back-to-back victories in the Group 3 $175,000 Colonial Chief Stakes over 1700m on the Polytrack on Sunday.
The son of Flying Spur was successful in last year’s running, defeating Goodpack, when partnered by Walker’s apprentice Shafiq Rizuan who will again have the mount on Sunday.
In fact Shafiq will be aiming for his third straight success in the race having guided Zac Influence to victory in 2011 – when named the Proinn Construct Stakes – giving the apprentice his first feature race win and ironically defeating Flying Fulton in the process.
Flying Fulton showed he was right on track to repeat his 2012 Colonial Chief Stakes success with a good fourth placing behind Cavallo in a 1200m Open Stakes on December 1, a run that surprised Walker.
“I was surprised with his run over 1200m last week at just how close he finished to them,” said Walker.
“He’s a seven-year-old now and I thought the 1200m would be a bit sharp for him, but he rounded the race off nicely.”
After a consistent start to 2013 which included victory in the The Group 3 Marsiling Classic Stakes over 1800m on the Polytrack back in March, Flying Fulton lost form before showing he was coming right with his last start effort.
The seven-year-old spent four months on the sidelines following the Marsiling Classic Stakes success and was having his seventh start back when fourth behind Cavallo last week.
“He pulled a muscle in his shoulder after winning in March and he needed time on the sidelines,” said Walker.
“It has taken a while to get him back into action and last week was his first glimpse of form since the injury.
“I want to see how he comes through Sunday’s run before we go making any further long term plans with him.”
Walker had no hesitation in giving Shafiq the ride on Flying Fulton in Sunday’s race after they teamed to come from last to finish fourth a week ago.
“He’s riding well and has a good record,” said Walker. “He’s going for three straight wins in the race having won it last year on this horse and on Cliff’s (Brown) horse the year before.
“He also gets on very well with the horse and that’s important in these types of race.”
With 69 winners for the season – just five shy of premiership leader Laurie Laxon – Walker is very pleased with how his season has progressed after arriving in Singapore towards the end of 2010.
“It’s been our best season so far and I’m very happy with how it has gone,” said Walker. “We’ve had a few unlucky seconds along the way as well which could have made the year even better.
“It would be nice to finish the year off with a Group win but it’s an even sort of field. There are the older horses like Flying Fulton starting to get back into form and then you’ve got some younger up-and-comers that are in-form like Goliath that will be hard to beat.”