War Affair (NZ) Just Gets Better

The dominance of star kiwi War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly) in Singapore went to a new level on Sunday night as he demolished a high-class field in the Sgp-1 S$500,000 Raffles Cup (1800m) by nearly five lengths.

War Affair (NZ) cruises to success in the Sgp-1 Raffles Cup. Photo courtesy of STC.

The Karaka Premier Sale graduate took his career statistics to 11 wins from 15 starts and is on track to make a clean sweep of the Singapore Triple Crown.

War Affair will be looking to become the first horse to win all three legs of the Triple Crown in the same year but is likely to have to overcome a big weight.

“The weight will be a concern. I’m worried even if he gets 58kgs but we’ll see how much the handicapper gives him,” commented trainer Alwin Tan. “I have no doubt he can stay and it’s now or never to test him, more so when it’s the Gold Cup.”

War Affair was second in the Raffles Cup last year as a three-year-old, finishing runner-up to NZB Ready to Run Sale graduate Super Ninetyseven (Show a Heart).

Installed a hot race-favourite by punters, War Affair did not have everything his own way as he was caught wide early in the race for rider Danny Beasley. It was of no concern though as the son of O’Reilly quickly put paid to his rivals with his customary sprint to win by 4.8 lengths from fellow kiwi Goodman (NZ) (Alamosa).

 “I’m just so very excited now,” commented Tan. “I didn’t think he would win by such a big margin, but that only tells us what we know already, he’s a very good horse.

“The horse was 100% fit today, but he seems to improve every time we race him. I wasn’t too worried when he was three wide in the backstraight as he did the same in the Kranji Mile and I know he will run on in the home straight.

“I knew he would hit the front at the 300m and then up the straight he always does his best. What a fantastic horse.”

It was the second consecutive Singapore Group 1 victory for War Affair and his third at the highest level overall. Raced by the Warplan Racing Stables, the four-year-old has earned S$1,803,138 already in prizemoney.

Bred by Trelawney Thoroughbred Ltd, War Affair is out of unraced mare Kristique (Kris S.), a daughter of dual Group 1 winner in the USA Nastique (Naskra).

War Affair was purchased by David Ellis of Te Akau Racing for NZ$70,000 at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale from Trelawney Stud.

War Affair was one of seven New Zealand-bred winners in Singapore on the night – five of them were sold at Karaka. The other feature winner on the night was Group 1 winner Spalato (NZ) (Elusive City), a winner of all six career starts.