Another Group 1 Winner - buyer David Ellis

The Informant reports:

Having his first start back following a five-month lay-off, Singapore's Horse of the Year War Affair announced his comeback with a stunning win in last night's Gr. 1 Lion City Cup at Kranji.

The odds appeared to be stacked against the outstanding son of O'Reilly. He had never won fresh up, the 1200-metre distance is well short of his best and he found himself in an almost hopeless position 600 metres from the finish.

But rider Alan Munro set War Affair alight and the champion galloper began to make up the deficit with enormous strides down the straight. He still appeared to have too much to do in the last 100 metres but he kept finding more and more, roaring home to snatch victory right on the line by a short head.

He will go straight to the Singapore Four-Year-Old Challenge now.

The Four-Year-Old Challenge begins with the Stewards' Cup on May 31, followed by the Patron's Bowl and Singapore Derby. The last two of those were won last year by the scintillating performer Spalato.

War Affair has now had 16 starts for 11 wins and three placings, earning more than S$1.8 million in prize-money.

It was an outstanding result for New Zealand, with War Affair bred by Trelawney Stud and purchased by Te Akau's David Ellis for $70,000 at the 2012 Premier Yearling Sale at Karaka.

“Another Group One to a Trelawney bred,” Trelawney's Cherry Taylor tweeted. “War Affair wins in Singapore over 1200. Well done to connections and to D C Ellis who purchased him.”