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Last year's juvenile champion War Affair has taken the first step towards graduating as Singapore’s best three-year-old after he recorded an imposing win on Sunday.
Ridden by new partner Danny Beasley and coming under the care of new handler Alwin Tan for only the second time since transferring from trainer Mark Walker at the end of last year, War Affair stripped a lot fitter after his first-up second four weeks ago to come out tops in stylish fashion.
While the son of O’Reilly’s previous racing pattern had seen him normally get back and launch his challenge in the last 400m, he was surprisingly in a much handier spot this time, even kicking up on the rails to ride alongside race-leader Faaltless (John Powell) in the initial stages.
Beasley eventually eased off to allow Faaltless to take up the running on his lonesome, but without losing sight of the Shane Baertschiger-trained galloper by still staying a length clear, and ready to pounce at any second.
That he did at the top of the straight when he sooled his mount to set sail after Faaltless, who was, however, showing no signs of letting up under Powell’s persuader. The top pair of three-year-olds locked horns for about 100 metres before War Affair’s superior dash eventually put paid to his gallant opponent by 1 ½ lengths.
The next two runners home will certainly be given more attention at the next two Legs run over more ground - 1400m (3YO Classic) and 1600m (Singapore Guineas). Outsider Desert Fox (Shafiq Rizuan) made stacks of ground to grab third place another length away, just a nose ahead of another longshot Room For Excuse (Alan Munro). The winning time was 1min 8.86secs
War Affair has now captured his fourth Group race and swollen his stakes earnings beyond the $750,000 mark for the Warplan Racing Stable.
Walker saddled War Affair to six wins all with champion jockey Joao Moreira aboard, including the two 2YO features as well as all three Legs of the inaugural More Magic 3YO Championship series.
Resuming from a four-month spell after his brave second against older horses in the Group 1 Raffles Cup (1800m) last October, War Affair was probably still a shade underdone when he finished second to Emperor Max in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1200m on February 23 at his first start under the new Tan-Beasley combination.
Although a touch dour, a sure sign he is screaming for more ground, War Affair was still sent out as the even-money hotpot to go one better in Sunday’s much-anticipated first Leg over 1200m, even if he was up against the country’s very best three-year-olds like Rite Of Spring, Daniel, Faaltless and Goodman – and he sure did not disappoint.
Tan was a relieved man at the winner’s circle, especially after the weight of expectation had been building up steadily ever since he took over the reins of such a public horse earlier in the year. Well intent on proving he was worthy of the owners' trust, the Singaporean trainer even concocted a “surprise” in his bid to befuddle his rivals.
“I discussed with Danny and we decided to play a trick in the race. Everyone thought we would try to sit off the pace, but I decided to go forward to take them by surprise,” said Tan.
“It’s worked out in the end as he was fast enough to be on the pace. Last time Joao would ride him from the back, but this time he made his own luck and the others had to chase him.
“Based on his timing, he really showed me how capable he is today. He’s really got a big heart.
“I was also happy with the way he ran straight as he was inclined to hang in last time. We’ve fixed his mouth ulcers, but we've overall put in a lot of effort to get him to win today.
“He will now go for the other two Legs. I have no doubt he will be even better over 1400m and 1600m and eventually long distances as he is a stayer.
“I know there was a clean sweep at all the last four 3YO series, and I would of course love to keep up the trend, but I will take one Leg at a time as there may be other better horses who will come out in the other Legs.”
Beasley expressed his gratitude for having been the lucky one to get the plum job after Moreira left for Hong Kong last October.“I would like to thank Mr Ong, his son Jason and Alwin for having picked me to become his jockey after Joao went to Hong Kong. I even spent some time discussing with Joao on how to ride him,” said the Australian hoop.
“He’s a bit special this fella. He can do things other normal horses cannot do – he can adapt to any situation.
“I bounced him out and decided to ride him more positive to see how the race would pan out for us.
“I knew he had the early speed to dictate if he wanted, but I just gave him an early push and let him come back underneath me. Those good horses are just so easy to ride.
“I was happy to sit behind JP (John Powell) as he is one of the best judges of pace in Singapore. I then got straight off the heels of his horse (Faaltless) and once I was in the straight, I knew what he can do and his superiority just made it so easy in the end.”