One Act Affair in Singapore

The leading two-year-old this year in Singapore, War Affair (NZ), made his first appearance as three-year-old last night with a stylish victory in the S$100,000 Premier Racing Partnership Stakes over 1200m at Kranji.

War Affair (NZ) wins the S$100,000 Premier Racing Partnership Stakes at Kranji last night. Photo courtesy of SJC.

The three-year-old son of O’Reilly went into the race as the favourite following an outstanding two-year-old campaign that saw him capture two black-type races as well as Singapore’s Golden Horseshoe Series.

Trained by New Zealander Mark Walker, War Affair jumped away well from the number one barrier and was eased behind the pacemaker, Rappor (Zizou), by leading jockey Joao Moreira and settled well.

Rounding the corner, Moriera was able to get his mount away from the rail to challenge the leader. Once War Affair drew beside the leader the pair raced in tight quarters with the Karaka Premier Sale graduate asserting his dominance with a 1.5 length victory over Rappor. Fellow Karaka graduate Desert Fox (Not a Single Doubt) ran into third spot.

The race was the first leg of the More Magic Three-Year-Old Championship, with War Affair (O’Reilly) now sitting in pole position thanks to last night’s win. Walker was impressed with the style of the victory from his charge and will continue to compete in the three-race Series.

“Before his previous start he had a bit of a freshen-up and I actually gave him an extra week so he was always going to be vulnerable there so it was good that he got that victory. But he was back to his best yesterday and he really proved himself.

“He will go to the 1400m race in three weeks and then to the new Group 3 over mile that they have made as part of the three-year-old Series,” commented Walker.

Raced by the Warplan Racing Stable, War Affair has now racked up four wins from five starts and has earned S$331,582 in prizemoney.

The son of O’Reilly - the winning sire of all three Champion Sire awards at last month’s New Zealand Racing Awards - is out of the American mare Kristique (Kris S), a daughter of four-time Group 1 winner Nastique (Naskra). Bred by Trelawney Stud, who also offered the gelding as yearling, War Affair was purchased by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $70,000 at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale.

The night was a successful one for Kiwi-bred runners with seven of the 12 races won by horses bred and/or sold in New Zealand.

The Karaka Select Sale had four winners on the night with Mal’s Dad (Savabeel) getting the ball rolling in the second race by winning for New Zealand trainer Stephen Gray, the Volksraad five-year-old Hard Stuff scoring over 1100m, Chinese Dragon’s son Vantage breaking through for his first victory over 1900m, and the former Lance Noble trained Beauty Supreme taking out the last race of the night.

NZB’s Ready to Run Sale also enjoyed triumph last night with Listen (Iffraaj) recording his third win from seven starts. Vantage is also a graduate of the Ready to Run Sale after he was purchased for $30,000 at the 2011 Select Sale and offered later that year in the Ready to Run Sale, fetching $120,000.

New Zealand-bred Aratiatia (Pins) took out the first race of the night for ex-pat Kiwi trainer Laurie Laxon.

New Zealand winners in Singapore last night: