Michael Walker (born 1984) is a New Zealand-born former jockey of Māori ancestry who won the New Zealand premiership and also competed in Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Early life Michael Walker was born in Rotorua, New Zealand, in the central districts of the North Island, although his family later moved to Waitara. At the age of 11, Walker approached noted Thoroughbred trainer Allan Sharrock, asking for work with his horses. Sharrock gave him regular work after school before eventually indenturing him as an apprentice. He arranged a special dispensation for Walker to start riding in races at age 15 instead of the usual starting age of 16.
In his first year as an apprentice (the 1999–2000 racing year), Walker had an astonishing 131 wins to not only win the apprentices’ championship but the jockeys’ premiership as well (his first of three). While apprenticed to Sharrock, Walker won 653 races, most in New Zealand (a record 631 wins), but also in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, and Macau.
Senior jockey In April 2004, at age 20, he became a fully fledged jockey. Walker celebrated the next day by riding five winners at the Woodville-Pahiatua Racing Club's meeting in southern Hawke's Bay. Despite not riding in New Zealand for three-quarters of the season, Walker finished with 107 wins, only seven behind Matamata jockey Leith Innes, who won the 2003–2004 premiership. However, he was awarded the apprentice of the year title for the season.
Overseas move Wanting to further his career, Walker announced in May 2004 that he was moving to Melbourne, Australia, following in the footsteps of other champion New Zealand jockeys, such as Midge Didham, Greg Childs, Brent Thomson, Shane Dye, and the Cassidy brothers, who made their names overseas.
Walker left with the blessing of Sharrock and the New Zealand racing fraternity. He made an immediate impression a few days after moving to Victoria, when he rode a 30-1 shot Monde Special to win the Warrnambool Cup. A couple of weeks later, he rode Chloe With Class to win at Moonee Valley to record his first metropolitan win, and followed that with a treble at Bendigo on 20 May 2004 on Lord Orb, Swift Rule, and Scopari.
His ride on Danestorm to win the Brisbane Cup in June 2004 was hailed by the media. However, he then went through a period of poor form, and wins were few and far between.
In 2005, Michael returned to New Zealand and became a stable rider for leading Matamata trainer Mark Walker. With that deal, the winning feeling returned, and in March 2006, he produced a perfectly timed ride on Pentane to win New Zealand's richest handicap, the Auckland Cup.
Hunting accident On 20 May 2008, Walker was seriously injured while pig hunting in Taranaki when he fell down a 10-metre-high bank. He was taken to Taranaki Base Hospital and then transferred to Auckland City Hospital with serious head injuries. He scored a win in only his second ride after his accident at Matamata on 4 December 2008.
Injury and retirement
In August 2022, Michael Walker suffered a fall at a jumpout trial meeting at Pakenham, Victoria, and was hospitalised in intensive care and placed in an induced coma to stabilise him. This fall left Walker suffering from a brain injury, and in February 2023, he retired from raceday riding.
At the time of his retirement, it was reported that Walker had won 1144 races in New Zealand and more than 2000, including his victories in Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. This included 25 Group I races.
Notable victories
The following are some of the major races Michael has won in New Zealand and Australia.
Year Race Horse Trainer(s) 2020 The Thousand Guineas OdeumMick Price & Michael Kent Jnr2020 New Zealand Derby SherwoodForest Tony Pike2020 Blue Diamond Stakes Tagaloa Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young2018 Queensland GuineasSambroChris Waller2018Australian CupHarlemDavid & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig2017 Caulfield Guineas Mighty Boss Mick Price2015Australian CupSpillway David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig 2014 New Zealand Derby Puccini Peter & Jacob McKay 2010 New Zealand Derby Military Move Shaune Ritchie2008Otaki-Maori Weight for AgeAlamosa Peter McKay 2008 Wellington Cup Young CentaurJohn Sargent 2007 New Zealand 1000 Guineas Insouciant Mark Walker 2006 Auckland Cup Pentane Lance O'Sullivan 2006 Otaki-Maori Weight for Age Darci Brahma Mark Walker 2005 New Zealand 2000 Guineas Darci Brahma Mark Walker 2005 Hawke's Bay Guineas Darci Brahma Mark Walker 2004 Brisbane Cup Danestorm Jim Conlan 2003 New Zealand 1000 Guineas Taatletail 2003 Waikato Sprint Tit for Taat Anne Herbert 2003Telegraph Handicap Tit for Taat Anne Herbert 2002 Hawke's Bay GuineasBunkerStephen & Trevor McKee 2002Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes Grout Allan Sharrock 2002 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes Grout Allan Sharrock2001Hawkesbury Gold CupHuge DemandGraeme Rogerson 2001 Wellington Cup Smiling Like Graeme Rogerson
See also
Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand Thoroughbred racing in Australia
References