Singapore’s Kiwi Love Affair Continues

New Zealand’s star galloper in Singapore, War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly), captured his second victory at the elite level on Sunday night with success in the Sgp-1 S$500,000 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m).

War Affair (NZ) continued on his winning way in the Sgp-1 Panasonic Kranji Mile.

The impressive son of O’Reilly took his record to 10 wins from 14 starts with last night’s victory the second at the highest level in Singapore following his win the Sgp-1 Singapore Guineas earlier this year for trainer Alwin Tan.

Starting from barrier 13 in the 14-horse field for rider Danny Beasley, War Affair was forced to race three-wide without cover around mid-field. The leader Magneto (Footstepsinthesand), who beat War Affair at the pair’s last start, set a strong pace and pinched a break entering the straight.

War Affair stalked Magneto into the straight and went to the lead at the 300m. Despite being in front a long way from the finishing post the four-year-old had the field well covered and won decisively by 1.8 lengths over Johnny Guitar (Lode) with Magneto in third.

“It’s been a bit stressful when you take over such a good horse and everyone expects him to win,” commented Tan. “We had a tough barrier and there was a chance he was going to be pushed wide and at the 600m I was quite worried as he was still trapped and unable to get clear but he’s a really special horse and again was just too good for the rest of them.”

War Affair was a dominant three-year-old winning all three legs of the Singapore 3YO Challenge earlier this year and looks set for further riches this season with the S$1.35 million Longines Singapore Gold Cup on his agenda.

“He will go for the Raffles Cup next and if he maintains his condition he will go for the Gold Cup,” said Tan.

Racing for the Warplan Racing Stable, War Affair has won S$1,528,938 in prizemoney for his owners.

Bred by Trelawney Thoroughbreds Ltd, War Affair is out of an unraced American mare Kristique (Kris S) who is a daughter of four-time Group 1 winner Nastique (Naskra), the dam of stakes winners Thunder Kitten (Storm Cat) and Nobo True (Broad Bush).

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