War Affair (NZ) Gallant in Singapore Return
28 April 2015
Star kiwi galloper War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly) made a gallant return to the turf with victory in the Sgp-1 S$500,000 Lion City Cup (1200m) in Singapore on Sunday.
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War Affair (NZ) victorious in the Sgp-1 S$500,000 Lion City Cup. |
Singapore’s Horse of the Year, War Affair has produced outstanding form to date, winning 12 of his 17 starts. Nine of his victories have been in stakes company, including four at Sgp-1 level. Trained by Alwin Tan, his last start saw him finish fifth carrying topweight in the Sgp-1 Singapore Gold Cup in November.
“I was very worried at the 600m, he hadn’t closed up with the rest yet,” said Tan. “I could only pray hard he could still run on in the last 400m. The jockey rode him very well and followed my instructions.
“Petrenui ensured a good pace to the race. I was worried horses like Faultess would lead then drop the speed. War Affair needed a fast pace to have the best chance of winning.
“When I saw him further back than we wanted, I really thought he would not win again first-up, after all, he was running against the best sprinters, but he again showed what a turn of foot he has, even when he all looked gone.
“I think the barrier trials that I have given him have paid off. They have built up his fitness and gave me the confidence he was fit and also, stronger and more mature now.
“He will go straight to the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge now.”
One of the last horses to leave the barriers, War Affair, ridden by Alan Munro, found himself second-to-last in the early stages. Leading the nine-horse field was Petrenui (Bletchley Park) followed closely by Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast’n’Famous) while War Affair worked overtime at the rear of the field.
War Affair came off the turn at a wide angle for a clear run, launching down the home straight in a bid to pick up the front runners. It came down to a four-horse battle over the line but War Affair would not be defeated, driving forward for a narrow victory by a nose over Zac Spirit (Flying Spur)and Emperor Max (Holy Roman Emperor), who finished in second and third place respectively.
Owned by the Warplan Racing Stable, this win has increased the four-year-old gelding’s prizemoney to S$2,095,189.
The son of Champion Sire O’Reilly was purchased by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$70,000 from Trelawney Stud.
Bred by Trelawney Stud, War Affair is out of the unraced mare Kristique (Kris S.), a half-sister to stakes winners Thunder Kitten (Storm Cat), a Group 3 winner in America, and Nobo True (Broad Bush), a Japanese Group 1 winner.