Walker hoping for Lightning strike

2015 threatens to be the year in which Ed Walker firmly establishes himself at the top table of British trainers.

Since bursting on to the scene when sending out Riggins to land the Hyde Stakes at Kempton back in November 2010, the Newmarket handler has made stealthy progress up the training ranks.

Last year was by far his best season to date, sending out 40 winners, nearly double his previous best tally, along with enjoying his first domestic Group-race winner.

Walker said: "I was delighted with last year and while the numbers this year have not gone up enormously, the quality definitely has.

"We have been a bit more picky with what horses we have kept, while we have had some well-bred ones arrive."

If Walker's ambitions are to be reached this season then success will not be limited to just that on domestic shores, as he outlined plans to give Glorious Protector an ambitious campaign abroad.

After making a solid reappearance when finishing third in a mile-and-a-quarter handicap at Lingfield back in April, the five-year-old went on to bolt up in a handicap over the same distance at Newmarket's July meeting, before enjoying Listed-race success at Windsor.

Walker, 31, said: "I have always held Glorious Protector in such high regard and I thought the world of him as a two-year-old.

"He goes into this year a very exciting horse and is still quite unexposed, as he is still improving physically and mentally. He probably won't get going until a lot later and we will aim him high internationally, where he could run in a few races in America and Canada.

"He needs good ground and a good fast past which he should get in these better races. Australia is an option but I think he would be suited more to the Canadian International route. The end target would be the Hong Kong Vase."

While Walker is excited about the avenues he has in mind for Glorious Protector, he is equally enthusiastic about the potential of Lightning Moon handing him big-race glory.

Although having just three starts to his name, the son of Shamardal has improved with each run, culminating last season with a win in the Group Three Bengough Stakes at Ascot.

Walker said: "After he won the Bengough Stakes he had a respiratory infection and was ill for while, but he looks amazing now and is 100 per cent.

"We are gearing him up for the Duke of York Stakes in May. He is being thrown in at the deep end, but he warrants it. He is seriously exciting and has a great cruising speed and turn of foot.

"If anything the six furlongs at York may be a bit quick for him and it may be that he wants a stiff six furlongs, but it certainly won't do him any harm. If he is a good as we hope then we could look at the Golden Jubilee, the July Cup and the Maurice de Gheest which looks tailor-made for him."

Having achieved a Listed success with the now-retired Livia's Dream last season, Walker has drawn up a plan to match her achievements with another filly that he holds in similar regard.

Walker said: "Mutatis Mutandis is in the same mould as Livia's Dream. She has not yet fully shown it on the track, but I have a really strong feeling we have not seen the best of her yet.

"I think I messed up running her in the Oaks Trial at Lingfield as she looked like she didn't stay and that is why I ran her over 10 furlongs for the rest of the season.

"She is from a slow-maturing family and I really do think she is a proper middle-distance filly and she will be campaigned in that respect. She is versatile as regards to ground and is likely to return in the Daisy Warwick Stakes at Goodwood in May."

Walker feels that the aforementioned horses can provide him with good opportunities to strike at both Listed and Group race level, and also selected another couple of horses that merit close attention, albeit at a slightly lower level.

Walker said: "I really fancied Invincible Gold in the Tattersalls Millions last year but the ground came up soft and he hated it and I could tell three furlongs out it was not our day.

"He is rated 89 and I think this year he could have a good year. He is definitely a smart horse and he might be one for the Britannia as the fast pace in that race would suit."

"Fillothewisp was a very expensive purchase but was extremely backward and didn't show much last year.

"The last three months she has just blossomed. She has a great big stride and looks a stayer in the making. She is bred to be good and is giving me every indication she is going the right way."

As for his team of two-year-olds, Walker is of the opinion that while they are a useful group, more will come from them later down the line.

Walker said: "Whatever the two-year-olds achieve at two they will build on at three, so anything this year is a bonus.

"We have got Bryght Boy who is a half-brother to Aeolus. He is a big, strong athletic type who we will see from the summer onwards, while Thornado, who is by Scat Daddy, is another that looks to have a really athletic composition.

"Of the others Marylebone is a quite a good looking, big, backward type who looks like he could be a class horse."