Quechua Outgames War Affair in the Singapore Derby

The punters bet Sunday's Emirates Singapore Derby as if it was a two-horse race, and so it proved, as Argentinian import Quechua completed a rare double, tacking this 4-year-old feature onto his victory in the valuable Singapore Gold Cup last November.

A Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed in his native Argentina, Quechua has been a model of consistency in Singapore and recorded a breakthrough success with a defeat of his stablemate Emperor's Banquet (Aus) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) in the 2200-meter Gold Cup, the richest event on the local racing calendar, Nov. 16. More recently, he turned in a big performance to just miss in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup over the course and distance Apr. 26 and was first of the locals home in the G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup May 17, finishing 3 1/4 lengths behind the Hong Kong duo of Dan Excel (Ire) (Shamardal) and Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}). He prepped for the Derby with a runner-up effort to War Affair in the Patron's Bowl over an insufficient 1600-meter trip June 21 and was primed for this test over a more level playing field.

Drawn gate 11 in the field of 14, Quechua hit the ground running and was a bit wide from fourth early on, but Corey Brown gave his mount a little rein and the duo was up into a stalking second as VRC St Leger hero Order of the Sun (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) set the pace. Fastnet Dragon got the perfect spot in the box seat, while reigning Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair could not get in from the 13 and traveled three and four wide in the middle stages.

Order of the Sun still led narrowly from Quechua, but Brown was still riding full of confidence, pushed the button and hit the front 400 meters from home. War Affair traveled deep on the second turn, but looped rivals to draw alongside Quechua and the stage was set for the final furlong. The Horse of the Year may have poked his head in front with a sixteenth of a mile to run, but Quechua–who covered 11 meters fewer than War Affair–used that to his best advantage and stuck his head across the wire first. Fastnet Dragon saved all the ground to be in the photo finish.

“He's been such a good horse to us. He's won the Gold Cup and now the Derby, what more can you ask of him,” said trainer Patick Shaw, who orchestrated the career of the legendary Rocket Man (Aus) (Viscount {Aus}) and who was winning his second Derby after [Our] Falstaff (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) in 2006. “The plan was to go forward today from the wide draw, but I left it to Corey to decide where he wanted him to be. I was pretty confident he would be right in it coming to the top of the straight as he's such a fighter. He dug down real deep when War Affair got to him, and was just too good today. Corey also gave him a great ride.”

Quechua will now get a break before being prepared for a title defense in the Gold Cup Nov. 15.

War Affair's trainer Alwin Tan put the narrow defeat down to the luck of the draw–or lack thereof.

“We lost because of the wide barrier,” he said glumly. “He was caught four to five wide but he still ran very well.”

War Affair will also be pointed for the Gold Cup as this budding rivalry continues to grow.

EMIRATES SINGAPORE DERBY, S$1,150,00 (US$851,860), Kranji, 7-12, 4yo, 2000mT, 2:03.14, gd/fm.
1–QUECHUA (ARG), 126, g, 4, Pure Prize–Queen Cabaret (Brz), by Wild Event. O-Avengers Stable; B-Haras Santa Maria de Araras; T-Patrick Shaw; J-Corey Brown; S$684,250. Lifetime Record: GSW & G1SP-Arg, 21-7-7-6, $1,696,290.
2–War Affair (NZ), 126, g, 4, O'Reilly (NZ)–Kristique, by Kris S. (NZ$70,000 yrl '12 NZBPRE). O-Warplan Racing Stable; B-Trelawney Thoroughbred Ltd; T-Alwin Tan; S$244,375.
3–Fastnet Dragon (Aus), 126, g, 4, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Sister Madrid (Aus), by Fuji Kiseki (Jpn). (A$147,500 yrl '12 INGMEL). O-Zhao Song; B-J K Sullivan; T-Lesile Khoo; S$123,625.
Margins: NK, NO, 3. Odds: 2.00, 0.80, 10.80.

Also Ran: Cooptado (Arg), Sebrose (Aus), Order of the Sun (Aus), Ideal Guide (Aus), Twickenham (Aus), Absolutely (NZ), Knight Wager (Aus), Hughsy (Aus), Blue Swede (NZ), In Fact (Arg), Ride of Valkyries (Arg). Scratched: Laughing Gravy (Aus).
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