WAR AFFAIR is on course to
become the first horse since JOLIE'S SHINJU in 2009 to sweep the Singapore
Four-Year-Old Challenge after toying with the opposition to win the
S$500,000 Patrons' Bowl (1600m) at Kranji here today.
After labouring to win the
first leg, the Stewards' Cup (1400m) on May 31, the New Zealand gelding was
back to brilliant best when he cruised home to win with plenty in hand by
three lengths today.
His winning time of 1min
33.45secs was just 0.17 second outside the course record set by MAGNETO last
year. The record holder, incidentally, finished third today, with Singapore
Gold Cup winner QUECHUA coming in second.
The final leg of the
Challenge is the Emirates Singapore Derby (2000m) on July 12.
"The Derby is on target,
but the distance will be a challenge," said trainer Alwin Tan.
In his first and only
attempt beyond 1800m, WAR AFFAIR finished fifth to QUECHUA in the Gold Cup
last November.
Alan Munro, who has now
partnered WAR AFFAIR three times for three wins, beginning with the Lion
City Cup in April, said: "He’s a super horse and he’s going to the Derby now
and he’s likely to be the best horse there. But 2000m is a very long
distance and if anything goes wrong, we might not win. All the tactics will
be at play now."
WAR AFFAIR has now won 14
or 19 starts, earning more than S2.5mil in prizemoney and bonuses.
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