Michael Walker To Settle In Queensland

Monday, 17 May 2010 02:15

Leading New Zealand jockey Michael Walker has decided to settle in Brisbane from next season.

Walker, who defied serious head injuries suffered in a pig hunting accident to return to the saddle late in 2008, is riding in Queensland during the Brisbane winter carnival and has had discussions with leading trainers there about a permanent move.

"I have not made this decision lightly but all the arrows have been pointing in this direction in the past few months," Walker said on his website.

He said his manager, Hugh Crawford, supported his decision and had spoken with trainers in Queensland to gauge their reactions.

"It has been nothing but extremely positive and from my own discussions with people like leading trainers Rob Heathcote, Barry Baldwin and Brian Smith, I am sure it is the right move."

Walker said Mark Van Triet, who manages Damien Oliver, had agreed to be his manager in Australia.

Walker, 26, won the New Zealand jockeys' premiership twice while an apprentice, chalking up 653 wins before he became a fully fledged jockey.

He had a rocky stint in Australia in the mid-2000s, but returned to win the NZ premiership in 2007-08 with a runaway 173 wins, with the pig hunting accident denying him the chance to reach 200.

He chalked up his 1000th winner in New Zealand in January last year.

Picture: Quentin Lang