Plenty of Te Akau Interest

The Informant writes on Te Akau's strong hand in the Group 1 $1.15 million Singapore Derby on Sunday - with Sebrose (trained by Mark Walker) and reigning Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair (pictured) both being selected and purchased by David Ellis ...

Te Akau Racing will have divided loyalties in Sunday's Gr. 1 Singapore Derby at Kranji.

Sebrose carries the colours of Te Akau and the hopes of trainer Mark Walker, while the champion galloper War Affair has been an international flagbearer for Te Akau since David Ellis bought him for $70,000 at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale.

Now trained by Alwin Tan for owners Warplan Racing Stable, the Trelawney Stud-bred War Affair has started 19 times for 14 wins and three placings and has become one of the greats of the Singapore turf.

The O'Reilly gelding has won five times at Group One level including a dominant three-length win in the Patron's Bowl last time out.

War Affair is the class horse of this year's Derby field, but his wide draw of 13 in the 14-horse Derby field makes his task more difficult as he stretches out beyond 1800 metres for only the second time in his career.

“We are okay with the wide draw and we have a good plan in mind,” Alwin Tan's stable representative Jason Ong told the Singapore Turf Club. “He's a pretty versatile horse, which is a major advantage to us. He normally comes from the back, but he can jump and sit as well. So we will let him settle wherever he's comfortable and we are confident in him.”

War Affair will be ridden by Alan Munro, who share's the stable's confidence.

“This is similar to the Gold Cup draw (12 of 16) last year,” he said. “He looks like he might be three deep in the race, but considering the way he runs, he's still well off in the race and I still have confidence in him.”

Sebrose, by Sebring out of the New Zealand Oaks winner Bramble Rose, trialled three times in New Zealand for Jason Bridgman before moving to the Singapore branch of Te Akau's operation. He has had 11 starts for four wins and five placings, and he has won three of his last five starts.

This is Sebrose's first attempt at Group level, but Walker is confident he can measure up.

“Distance shouldn't be a problem to him as his mother Bramble Rose won the New Zealand Oaks which was over 2400 metres, so it's in his genes to stay,” he said. “I have thought of entering him in the Derby all along, but he's a horse that matures a little more slowly. Since he has improved and matured a lot in his past runs, we thought why not?

“His last few runs were good but this time it will be the toughest company he has ever faced with one or two horses like War Affair and Quechua that seems hard to beat on paper. So it's a pretty big step up for him.”

Sebrose will break from gate three and will be ridden by Manoel Nunes, who rode Spalato to win this race last year.