One-Sided Affair in Guineas

Star kiwi galloper War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly) was at his devastating best on Friday night, easily accounting for Singapore’s best three-year-olds in the Sgp-1 S$500,000 Singapore Guineas (1600m).

War Affair (NZ) cruising to victory in the Sgp-1  Singapore Guineas. Photo courtesy of STC.

Last season’s champion juvenile has gone from strength to strength this season and the Singapore Guineas victory gave him a clean sweep of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge. It was the son of O’Reilly’s third Singapore series success having won both the Golden Horseshoe 2YO Series and the More Magic 3YO Series last season.

It was expected that War Affair would win Friday night’s feature race as he started a hot race-favourite but it was the fashion with which he disposed of the field by four lengths that enthralled most followers.

The performance by War Affair impressed Australian rider Danny Beasley so much that the Golden Slipper winning jockey declared him the best horse he has ridden in Singapore.

“I’ve won a few Group 1 races, but he’s pretty special as far as special horses go,” commented Beasley. “He’s got such an explosive turn of foot and once I let him go to the front, it would have taken a very good horse to come back at me.

“A lot of people didn’t believe me, but fair dinkum, I’ve always said he’s a very good horse. But it would be unfair for me to compare him with Grand Armee (the best horse Beasley has been associated with in Australia), but he is definitely the best I’ve ridden in Singapore.”

A strong pace was set in the race with leader Lively Dragon (Snippetson) breaking away from the field, leading by eight lengths heading out of the back straight. With the strong tempo the field strung out and War Affair was sitting in fifth position, ready to pounce for Beasley.

When the Alwin Tan trained gelding loomed up to the leaders at the 300m mark it was evident the race was in safe keeping. War Affair then showed a blistering turn of foot to streak away from the field.

It was left to the remaining kiwis to battle out the minor placings with Daniel (NZ) (Guillotine) finishing second, Goodman (NZ) (Alamosa) in third and Rise ‘n’ Shine (NZ) (Zabeel) completing a New Zealand first four.

Tan only took over the training of War Affair from Mark Walker this season and the victory provided him with the biggest win of his career.

“This is my first Group 1 win, and I have to say there’s been a bit of pressure to win this race,” commented Tan. “This horse is just wonderful, but I have to say it’s also a team effort. We’ve all worked as a very good team.

“The longer the better for him. I haven’t really planned anything for him yet, but down the road, I guess I will look at travelling him to Dubai along with a couple of horses hopefully, and if all goes well, the SAI (Singapore Airlines International) Cup next year.”

The Warplan Syndicate have cheered home War Affair to nine wins from 12 starts, earning them S$1,229,389 in the process.

War Affair is out of unraced American mare Kristique (Kris S.), a daughter of four-time Group 1 winner Nastique (Naskra) who is the dam of Group 3 winner Thunder Kitten (Storm Cat) and Jpn-1 winner Nobo True (Broad Bush).

David Ellis purchased War Affair for $70,000 at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale from his breeder Trelawney Stud.

Earlier on the programme in Singapore, New Zealand two-year-olds Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous) and Affleck (NZ) (Battle Paint), both trained by ex-pat kiwi Laurie Laxon, ran first and second respectively in the Sgp-2 Golden Horseshoe (1200m).

The race was the final leg of the Golden Horseshoe 2YO Series with Kiwi Karma claiming her third win of the six race series to stamp herself as Singapore’s leading juvenile as War Affair did last year.

Four out of the nine winners on Friday night were New Zealand-bred horses with Gold Line (NZ) (Align) and Karaka graduate Clutha Lad (Thorn Park) both triumphant.

Singapore’s international meeting was run on Sunday night with New Zealand-bred horses winning six of the 11 races on the night.

The first four races went the way of the kiwis with These Streets (NZ) (Elusive City), Assertive Lad (NZ) (Elusive City), Absolutely (NZ) (Coats Choice) and Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City) taking victories, with the first three winners Karaka graduates.

The night continued with Karaka graduates Kate’s Keeper (NZ) (Keeper) and Martin (NZ) (Colombia) both victorious and Mia (NZ) (Castledale) rounding out the night with a win in the last race.

Karaka graduates to win in Singapore on the weekend: