Written by Paul Vettise
Quality mare Love Affair (NZ) (Savabeel) capped off a royal day for powerhouse nursery Waikato Stud when she struck the first winning black type blow of her career at Ellerslie.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained 5-year-old is raced by breeder Garry Chittick and her sixth and most important victory came with a hard-fought victory in the G3 Eagle Technology S.
Love Affair completed a four-timer at the Auckland track for the Matamata farm following the earlier successes in their colours of Pink Graffiti (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), a highly valuable half-sister to the dual Group 1 winners Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and Vision And Power (NZ) (Carnegie {IRE}).
Success across Australasia
Farm graduates Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) and O’He Can (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) added to the stud haul while in Melbourne My Pendant, part-owned by Garry’s son Mark, continued her progress with success at Moonee Valley.
But it was Love Affair who was the star of the Chittick’s show when she added that vital black type credit to her record.
“She deserved a stakes win and we’re glad to have her so thanks to Waikato Stud,” Forsman said.
"We'll take it one race at a time with her and keep her ticking over before we find the next right race." - Andrew Forsman.
“We’ll take it one race at a time with her and keep her ticking over before we find the next right race.”
Love Affair following her win in the G3 Eagle Technology S
Love Affair raced behind the speed and one off the fence before letting down strongly in the run home to reel in Meeska Mooska (NZ) (El Hermano {NZ}).
“It was a good effort and it was from the second horse, who raced three wide without any cover,” Forsman said.
"It was a muddling run race and that was what we were nervous about, but she's got the job done." - Andrew Forsman.
“It was a muddling run race and that was what we were nervous about, but she’s got the job done.”
Winning jockey Matthew Cameron said Love Affair’s class was the deciding factor.
“She had to be good. Meeska Mooska kicked well and put a couple of lengths on me, but the mare dug deep like good horses do.
"Murray and Andrew have done a super job nursing her along and now she's got the Group 3 that she deserves." - Matthew Cameron, jockey.
“Murray and Andrew have done a super job nursing her along and now she’s got the Group 3 that she deserves. She’s a real winner.”
Love Affair is out of Romancing (NZ), who is an unraced daughter of O’Reilly (NZ) and a sister to the Listed Winter Championship winner Salsa (NZ) and half-sister to the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Somepin Anypin (NZ) (Pins).
It is also the family of the G1 Goodwood H. winner and G3 Tesio S. winner Sylvaner (NZ) (Centaine).
