Trainer Bruce Marsh was showing his usual guarded optimism ahead of War Affair’s shot at another Group 1 glory in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (1800m) this Sunday.
The 2014 Singapore Horse of the Year will be racing second-up after his sensational dead-heat with Storm Troops in the Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes (1400m) at his comeback race from a seven-month spell three weeks ago.
After sifting through the different factors and variables around that new assignment – his 26th start, the experienced Kiwi handler came up with more pros than cons, but still remained cautious.
After sharing the spoils at his last run, War Affair will attempt to win on his own this Sunday, picture Singapore Turf Club.
The main positive for the O’Reilly six-year-old was the Weight-for-Age conditions of the race, he said. On 116 points (third highest-rated Singapore horse after Spalato on 120 points), the 16-time winner and multiple Group 1 winner of close to $3 million in stakes certainly looks well-in at the handicap.
“He’s pulled up great after the Saas Fee. I’m very happy with him going into the QEII Cup,” said Marsh.
“I would say he has maintained his condition, though. It’s a quality field, but the fact he has only 58kgs on his back and is on level terms with the rest is a huge advantage.
“The three-year-old (Jupiter Gold) for instance has to carry 56kgs, when there is a difference of 25 points between him and War Affair.”
But Marsh, who won the QEII Cup in 2010 with Race Ahead, was rueing the sharp step-up from 1400m to 1800m - even if the $500,000 feature race was until this year run over 2000m.
“Everything is good, but what I don’t really like is seeing him go second-up over 1800m. It’s not the ideal distance for a second-up run,” said Marsh.
“I would have preferred another 1400m race to be honest. It will be another two furlongs, and with his recent wind op, you have to be mindful.
“It’s also a different type of race, with a lot of depth. The speed conditions will not be the same over 1800m and with such a big field, the speedmap will be different.
“Still, 1800m is better than 2000m, so I would say that drop in distance suits us this year, but it could be a different story next year when we have a stayer looking for 2000m!
“Anyway, it’s not quite the ideal race for War Affair, but there was no other option for him. I couldn’t wait for another two weeks, and the QEII Cup was the only race available.
“But it is a quality field he will be running against, and there is also the quantity, which is no doubt due to the shorter 1800m which more horses can run over than 2000m. We just hope he runs another good race for us.”
The long-term target for the Ong family-owned champion is the Singapore Triple Crown series which kicks off in October with the Group 1 Panasonic Kranji Mile (1600m).
