Singapore Horse of the Year Wows ‘Em In Comeback

In the second of two stirring finishes on the card, Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair came from an impossible position to win first-up in what, for most, was a prep for the S$1-million G1 KrisFlyer International Sprint May 17.

Winner of 11 of his 16 local appearances to date, the 4-year-old won races at distances from 1200 meters up to 1800 meters in 2014, including the Singapore Guineas and Kranji Mile going that trip and the nine-furlong Raffles Cup before ending the season with a defeat at the hands of Quechua (Arg) (Pure Prize) when trying 2200 meters in the Longines Singapore Gold Cup. 

Making his first start since and taking on some of the best local sprinters, War Affair was beaten for speed and settled one from the tail, as many as 10 lengths out of it and remained outside the range of the cameras as they reached the final 500 meters. The cracking 3-year-old filly Kiwi Karma (NZ) (Fast N’ Famous {Aus}) came calling for the lead entering the final furlong and was soon joined by defending Lion City winner Zac Spirit, but Alan Munro began winding up War Affair once heads were turned for home and the champion stomed down the grandstand side to be up in the final jump. 

“I was very worried at the 600-meter [mark],” admitted winning trainer Alwin Tan. “He hasn’t closed up with the rest yet. I could only pray hard he could still run on in the last 400 meters. The jockey rode him very well and followed my instructions. He was running against the best sprinters, but he again showed what a turn of foot he has even when he all looked gone.” 

War Affair will proceed to the 4-year-old Challenge, with the May 31 Stewards Cup the next target. Zac Spirit will likely press on to the KrisFlyer, in which he was third 12 months ago. Click for the Singapore Turf club chart. VIDEO.

LION CITY CUP, S$500,000 (US$375,336), Kranji, 4-26, 3yo/up, 1200mT, 1:09.21, gd. 
1–WAR AFFAIR (NZ), 127, g, 4, O’Reilly (NZ)–Kristique, by Kris S. (NZ$70,000 yrl ‘12 NZBPRE). O-Warplan Racing Stable; B-Trewlawney Thoroughbred Ltd; T-H W Tan; J-Alan Munro; S$279,500. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. 2yo & 3yo-Sin, 17-12-3-0, S$2,124,939. 
2–Zac Spirit (Aus), 127, g, 5, Flying Spur (Aus)–Kidman (Aus), by Quest for Fame (GB). (A$95,000 wnlg ‘10 MMNWNL; A$140,000 yrl ‘11 INGEAS). O-Zac Stable. S$106,250. 
3–Emperor Max (Aus), 127, g, 5, Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)–Maxerelle (Aus), by Strategic (Aus). (A$110,000 RNA yrl ‘11 INGEAS). O-Gordon Y H Man. S$53,750. 
Margins: HD, HD, HD. Odds: 1.40, 1.40, 8.80. 
Also Ran: Kiwi Karma (NZ), Huka Falls (NZ), Faaltless (NZ), Cheetah On Fire (NZ), Petrenui (Aus), Goal Keeper (Aus).