Affaire A Suivre comes of age in Port Adelaide Guineas

[Wandering Eyes]

Just 15 days after scoring a maiden win at Cranbourne, talented New Zealand-bred filly Affaire A Suivre stepped into the black-type spotlight in Saturday’s Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) at Morphettville.

The daughter of Astern is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, who backed off her in the spring after she was unplaced in her first two starts.

Affaire A Suivre has looked a different horse since returning to action in the autumn, finishing third at Pakenham before collecting her first win at Cranbourne on March 31. Maher and Eustace were happy to throw her in at the deep end in Saturday’s three-year-old feature in Adelaide, and she rose to the occasion.

Ridden by John Allen, Affaire A Suivre settled in sixth spot, one off the rail. Allen began to rev her up as the field approached the home turn, and she had quickly moved into second at the 300m mark.

Affaire A Suivre then set her sights squarely on the leader, her stablemate Running On Time. She slowly but surely wore that rival down, finishing over the top and going clear to score by a length and a half.

Allen believes Saturday’s win was an ideal trial for the Gr.1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at the same venue on April 29.

“It was a very good win by the filly today, and I’ll look forward to coming back here to ride her in a Group One in a couple of weeks’ time,” the Victorian-based jockey said.

“We had a good run in this race. After a couple crossed us early, we were able to stay one off the fence. She’s quite a big girl, so having a bit of room did her no harm.

“She flowed into it nicely and won the race with a bit of authority. She put them away but was still having a bit of a look around.

“Being the size that she is, she’s probably taken a bit of time to come into herself and fill out, and that could be why her early form might not read that well. But she’s putting everything together nicely now.”

Affaire A Suivre was bred by Courtney and Mandy Howells, who are based at Ainsley Downs Stud in Te Kauwhata. She is the second stakes winner out of the American-bred mare Laurelling, who is also the dam of the Listed Scone Cup (1600m) winner Laure Me In.

Since Affaire A Suivre was foaled in the spring of 2019, Laurelling has produced colts by Ocean Park and Darci Brahma, and she was served by Proisir in the 2022 breeding season.

Affaire A Suivre was offered by Ainsley Downs Stud in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where she was bought for $75,000 by First Light Racing, Paul Willetts, Ciaron Maher Racing and David Eustace.

With two wins and a placing from five starts, Affaire A Suivre has now earned A$85,480 in stakes.

Saturday’s Port Adelaide Guineas produced a New Zealand-bred quinella, with the second-placed Running On Time being a son of Time Test bred by Little Avondale Stud.

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