War Affair (NZ) completed a clean sweep of the inaugural More Magic 3YO Championship in Singapore on Sunday.

Trained by NZ expat Mark Walker, the three-year-old gelding went into the third and final leg of the More Magic Series after victories in the Premier Racing Partnerships Stakes (1200m) and Newgate Farm Stakes (1400m).

It was the first time any of the field had stepped up to 1600 metres but Walker was confident the son of O’Reilly would appreciate the distance at Kranji on Sunday.  After settling midfield in a moderately run race, champion jockey Joao Moreira angled War Affair to the centre of the track to run down fellow (NZ) galloper Daniel (Guillotine) by a half-length.

“If he pulls up extremely well, I may set him for the Raffles Cup.” said Walker.  “He keeps improving all the time. E very time we ask him, he just goes up a bit more.

“Joao said he didn’t really go full bore at him in the last bit.  That tells me he still had plenty left in the tank and that’s why I think the Raffles Cup would be ideal.”

War Affair (3g O’Reilly – Kristique by Kris S) was bred and sold by Trelawney Stud for $70,000 at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale.  He is raced by Warplan Racing Stable’s Mr and Mrs Ong and was Singapore’s Champion 2YO winning the G2 Golden Horseshoe (1200m) and G3 Juvenile Championship (1200m).

Waikato Stud champion O’Reilly sired the winner from USA bred mare Kristique.  Second-dam Nastique (Naskra) was a G1 winner of the Hollywood Matriarch Stakes and Aqueduct Ladies Hcp.

WAR AFFAIR
O’Reilly gelding wins the last leg of the More Magic 3YO Championship