Fairway's Turf Online

Two share honours in Saas Fee Stakes

SINGAPORE: May 14, 2017

WAR AFFAIR (outside) and STORM TROOPS (centre) battle it out in the
Saas Fee Stakes - SNTC photo

WAR AFFAIR, who has been plagued by injuries in the last couple of seasons, showed the benefit of a spell when he captured the Group 3 Saas Fee Stakes at Kranji here today.

It was his first outing since running third to DEBT COLLECTOR in the Group1 Raffles Cup last October.

But the six-year-old, Singapore's Horse-Of-The-Year in 2014, had to share honours with STORM TROOPS in the 1400m condition-weight Saas Fee Stakes.

WAR AFFAIR had to do it the hard way when came from the rear bunch early while STORM TROOPS enjoyed a nice run just off the pace.

For STORM TROOPS, it was a follow-up on his last start third to LIM'S CRUISER in the Group 1 Lion City Cup last month.

"It was a sensational win," said WAR AFFAIR's trained Bruce Marsh. "I don’t know what happened when he was so far back. The way the track rode today, he had to be really good to win first-up."

"I couldn’t be happier. He deserves a Group win and to share it with a horse like War Affair, it is a great honour," said trained Ricardo Le Grange who took over STORM TROOPS from Patrick Shaw who is on leave for medical reason.

Shaw was at the track to witness his protege winning his second group race, after BIG BROTHER in the Group 3 Fortune Bowl in January.

RESULTS AT A GLANCE: Tote No / Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Position

1	DEBT COLLECTOR 2016 STAKES
1	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 1 - 1200M
2	AWATERE	M Walker	R Shafiq	1
	(3 b.a.g Charge Forward - Catbird Kitty by Catbird)
6	Lim's Shot	L Laxon	D Beasley	2
9	El Camino	S Yeoh	V Duric	3
7	Silent Arrow	S Lam	A Munro	4

2	AFFLECK 2015 STAKES
2	RESTRICTED MAIDEN - 1400M
6	HANGMAN	S Gray	D Beasley	1
	(6 b.nz.g No Excuse Needed - Suzy Harris by Centaine)
8	Military Might	HW Tan	S John	2
2	O'Reilly Star	M Walker	R Shafiq	3
3	Energizer	ZL Mok	A Munro	4

3	WAR AFFAIR 2014 STAKES
3	CLASS 4, DIV 1 - 1400M
7	MR CROWE	L Laxon	V Duric	1
	(4 b.nz.g Alamosa - Halfyaluck by Montjeu)
1	Mark Eclipse	S Burridge	K A'Isisuhairi	2
8	Zeus Warrior	T Kieser	M Nunes	3
4	Saraab	R Le Grange	N Juglall	4

4	STEPITUP 2013 STAKES
4	MAIDEN - 1600M
7	GROUND CONTROL	M Clements	G Boss	1
	(4 b.nz.g Red Giant - Melroy by Commands)
2	Athena	C Brown	M Rodd	2
8	Black Swan	S Burridge	K A'Isisuhairi	3
13	Orion	S Gray	D Beasley	4

5	SUPER EASY 2012 STAKES
5	CLASS 3 - 1400M
1	ELITE EXCALIBUR	C Brown	M Rodd	1
	(4 b.a.g Fastnet Rock - Romantic River by Irish River)
4	Kirks Ryker	R Le Grange	V Duric	2
11	Winning Cause	R Le Grange	Juglall	3
7	Solaris Spectrum	S Baertschiger	Kellady	4

6	GINGERBREAD MAN 2011 STAKES
6	KRANJI STAKES D, DIV 2 - 1200M
10	UNSURPASSED	M Walker	V Duric	1
	(4 b.nz.g Exceed And Excel - Alamantra by Elusive Quality)
8	Changbai Mountain	S Baertschiger	J Powell	2
2	Asprey	M Walker	R Shafiq	3
6	Aotearoa	L Laxon	M Nunes	4

7	SAAS FEE STAKES
7	SINGAPORE GROUP 3 - 1400M
1	WAR AFFAIR	B Marsh	D Beasley	1
	(6 br.nz.g O'Reilly - Kristique by Kris S)
9	STORM TROOPS	R Le Grange	N Juglall	1
	(5 b.nz.g Tavistock - Shock by Keeper)
15	Hip Hip Hooray	M Clements	Zaki	3
7	Poseidon	C Brown	V Duric	4
	*Dead-heat for 1st

8	BETTER THAN EVER 2010 STAKES
8	BENCHMARK 97 - 1800M
7	NEWLANDS	S Gray	A Munro	1
	(5 b.a.g Mugharreb - Lady Migaloo by General Nediym)
2	Gilt Complex	C Brown	M Rodd	2
4	Guru-Guru	D Koh	Azhar	3
8	Mighty Kenny	R Le Grange	CC Wong	4

9	SINGAPORE GUINEAS
9	SINGAPORE GROUP 1 (3YO) - 1600M
10	FOREVER YOUNG	CT Kuah	Woodworth	1
	(3 b.am.g Run Away And Hide - Best Of Memories by Halo)
1	Jupiter Gold	H Takaoka	A Munro	2
2	Countofmontecristo	M Clements	G Boss	3
11	Mananani	H Takaoka	Chavez	4

10	GIVEN VISION 2009 STAKES
10	CLASS 4 - 1800M
1	MR FATKID	C Brown	M Rodd	1
	(3 b.nz.g Mettre En Jeu - Celtic Legacy by O'Reilly)
5	Secret Win	D Meagher	Woodworth	2
6	Chairman	L Laxon	M Nunes	3
13	Hidden Promise	M Walker	CK Ng	4

11	THE HORNET 2008 STAKES
11	CLASS 4, DIV 2 - 1400M
15	SHOW FAR SHOW GOOD	M Walker	N Juglall	1
	(4 b.nz.g Showcasing - Ever A Lady by At Talaq)
11	Splinter	B Marsh	V Duric	2
2	Risky Rockefeller	J Peters	M Nunes	3
6	Fuego	D Kok	Y Salim	4