Spring return tipped for War Affair

23 June 2016

Former Singapore Horse of the Year War Affair is making quiet progress toward a spring return to racing. The injury-troubled New Zealand-bred son of the late O’Reilly hasn’t raced for nearly a year and is making his come-back under the guidance of expatriate Kiwi trainer Bruce Marsh.

“We brought him back in work about six weeks ago, and started off with mostly slow uphill work,” he said. “It’s only recently that he’s come back on the main training tracks. He’s started doing pace work and is coming along nicely. He’s loving it!”

Marsh said the five-year-old’s extra pounds don’t actually reflect a lack of fitness. “He’s always been a big boy, and he’s about 30kg up, which is normal as it’s been 12 months since he raced,” he said. “But I would say it’s not fat. He’s just kept growing and it’s all good muscular mass.”

Marsh said he had not exactly mapped out a path for the multiple Group One winner. “I haven’t quite looked through the programme, but on the way he is progressing, I would say he would be back in September. A race like the Jumbo Jet Trophy is an option, but it’s too early to tell. We’ll play it by ear.”

Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle

A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.

9 July 2026

Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.