War Affair Edges Closer to Triple Crown

RAFFLES CUP, S$500,000 (US$392,102), Kranji, 10-26, 3yo/up, 1800mT, 1:46.34, gd. 
1–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-Tan Hai Wang; J-Danny Beasley; S$297,500. Lifetime Record: 15-11-3-0, S$1,832,889. 
2–Goodman (NZ), 126, g, 4, Alamosa (NZ)–Lucky Street (NZ), by Street Cry (Ire). O-V-Day Stable. S$106,250. 
3–Stepitup (Aus), 128, g, 5, Hussonet–Ain’t Seen Nothin’ (Aus), by Nothin’ Leica Dane (Aus). (A$90,000 yrl ‘11 INGMEL). O-Tivic Stable. S$53,750. 
Margins: 4 3/4, 1 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.40, 11.60, 12.80. 
    War Affair positioned himself to become the first horse to sweep Singapore’s Triple Crown for older horses with this comprehensive victory. The gelding, who was turned over as the 3-5 chalk in the Commitee’s Prize when first off a four-month layoff Sept. 21, got back to his winning ways in the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Oct. 5 Kranji Mile and was heavily favored at this slightly longer trip. Settled in midpack for the opening five furlongs, War Affair made progress three wide on the turn and was within easy striking distance of the pacesetting Goodman turning for home. He cruised up to that one while lugging in a bit into the final eighth of a mile, but streaked away from there for a facile success. “I’m just so very excited now,” said winning trainer Alvin 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.” Click for the Singapore Turf Club chart. VIDEO.