Stephen Marsh is disappointed he won’t get an opportunity to test War Affair (O'Reilly x Kristique) again this season.
The former Singapore topliner has had two starts since joining Marsh’s Cambridge stable and performed creditably.
He finished seventh on an unsuitable slow9 track in the Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa then, after winning a trial, he ran fourth to the highly acclaimed Te Akau Shark in the Gr.3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings last month.
“I thought he went a top race at Hastings,” Marsh said. “He had 61 kilos and Te Akau Shark had only 53 kilos.
“I was looking forward to giving him a crack at some of the other big races, but his owner has decided he wants him back in Singapore.
“He’s just waiting around for the next available flight, but that won’t be for a while.
“It’s a shame to see him go. I’d have loved to have a crack at a few good ones with him.”
War Affair, the winner of 15 races and more than $3.4 million in prizemoney, will be returning to the Singapore stable of Marsh’s father, Bruce, who took over his training after he finished second in the 2015 Singapore Derby (2000m). He prepared him to win two races including the Listed Saas Fee Stakes (1400m).
War Affair was initially prepared by another former Kiwi trainer, Mark Walker, and won six races in succession and was runner-up in the 2013 Raffles Cup (1800m).
Before joining Bruce Marsh’s stable, his wins included the Patron’s Bowl (1600m) and the 2014 Raffles Cup.
“He’s looking great and I’m sure he can win more,” Marsh said.
War Affair was bred by Trelawney Stud and sold through their 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock draft and returned to the farm to spell late last year following a wind operation. -NZ Racing Desk