A Kiwi Love Affair at Singapore Racing Awards

A stellar season by kiwi thoroughbreds in Singapore was capped last night with New Zealand horses winning eight of the 11 titles at the Singapore Racing Awards, including War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly) being crowned Singapore Horse of the Year.

War Affair (NZ) was crowned Singapore Horse of the Year. Photo courtesy of STC.

A $70,000 Karaka Premier Sale purchase by David Ellis, War Affair enjoyed a fruitful season, winning five of his eight starts. The son of O’Reilly made a clean sweep of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge for trainer Alwin Tan, a stretch of form that saw him win three stakes races culminating in Sgp-1 Singapore Guineas.

War Affair was at his most dominant in the Sgp-1 Raffles Cup, cruising to victory by nearly five lengths. That was his third win at Singapore Group 1 level following his win in the Sgp-1 Panasonic Kranji Mile at his previous start.

The dominance of War Affair is reflected in the number of awards he took home last night. Along with being crowned Horse of the Year, he was named Champion Three-Year-Old, Champion Miler and newly introduced Social Media Horse of the Year, which capped the monthly online Facebook Horse of the Month award organised by the Singapore Turf Club.

Fellow Karaka graduate El Padrino (NZ) (Mr Nancho) was awarded the title of Champion Older Horse. The son of Mr Nancho was the winner of the Sgp-3 Merlion Trophy and Sgp-3 Woodlands Handicap. Also trained by Alwin Tan, his defining win of the season was arguably his victory in the inaugural Asia Challenge Cup in South Korea, the country’s first international invitation race.

Brilliant kiwi Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City) was crowned Champion Four-Year-Old on the back of an unbeaten season in Singapore. The son of Elusive City had his first start in May of 2014 and was a Singapore Group 1 winner at just his third start in the Sgp-1 Patrons’ Bowl. Trained by John O’Hara, Spalato then won the Sgp-1 Singapore Derby at his fourth start before adding two more wins in a remarkable season.

Winning the Champion Two-Year-Old crown this year was Affleck (NZ) (Battle Paint), following in the footsteps of War Affair who was last year’s winner. The son of Battle Paint was an obvious choice for the award as he won three of his four starts including the Sgp-3 Juvenile Championship for ex-pat kiwi trainer Laurie Laxon.

The final kiwi horse to win an award was Goodman (NZ) (Alamosa) who had wrapped up the Most Improved Horse title at season’s end. The son of Alamosa is another trained by Laxon and won five races last season, the best of them the Sgp-2 Chairman’s Trophy.

Laxon notched his ninth Champion Trainer’s title, just holding out Tan for the award.

The dominance of kiwi horses at the Singapore Racing Awards come on the back of a season that saw New Zealand thoroughbreds win 48% of stakes races in Singapore – the most of any country.

With New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sales Series commencing on this Monday (26 January), it is a timely reminder of the quality New Zealand breeders produce.

For more news and information from New Zealand Bloodstock, visit www.nzb.co.nz.