Curlin’s Affair to extend winning streak

CURLIN'S AFFAIR could very well close out a four-timer in Sunday's Allan E 'Billy' Williams Memorial at seven furlongs after his impressive victory against United States-bred CLASSICAL ORB, and last year's classic-placed SANTORINI, at nine furlongs and 25 yards on January 22.

Foaled by 2016 fillies' Guineas winner and Oaks runner-up, NUCLEAR AFFAIR, sparingly raced CURLIN'S AFFAIR made a winning debut last March in 1:15.4 for six furlongs, on a heavy track, before returning a month later against the best three-year-olds, placing fourth behind FURTHER AND BEYOND, BILLY WHIZZ and CALCULUS in the seven-furlong Prince Consort Stakes.

However, he underperformed in May's 2000 Guineas prep, finishing eighth in the Kingston at seven and a half furlongs, after which he went off on a near six-month lay-up, returning to chase home speedy American JORDON REIGN'S at five furlongs straight on October 23.

CURLIN'S AFFAIR has not looked back since, racking up a hat-trick of wins, twice beating CLASSICAL ORB, even allowing the American-bred stayer seven pounds, going two turns, last time out.

Though facing a dangerous pair of Gary Subratie runners, middle-distance specialist, ONE DON, and down-in-class CRIMSON, CURLIN'S AFFAIR's ability to track the pace, before injecting a lethal turn of foot, could kill Subratie's two birds with one stone.

Chasing JORDON REIGN's splits of 22.3, 33.2 and 45.2, finishing just short of six lengths behind 58.3, confirmed CURLIN'S AFFAIR's versatility, which was borne out with a hat-trick of wins at different distances, at varying pace, against quality opposition.

Returning at 117lb, in a middle-distance event, CURLIN'S AFFAIR's speed and ability to quicken puts ONE DON in trouble against the local-bred. An off-the-pace runner, ONE DON might be suited to the trip but has to be wound-up for a last-furlong charge.

ONE DON took particularly long to get rid of FEARLESS CHAMPION in a restricted overnight allowance at six furlongs on January 16. His lack of pace also reared its head last time out when he finished third behind SECRET IDENTITY and old rival GO DEH GIRL at five and a half furlongs.

CRIMSON is even slower than ONE DON but accelerates rapidly off the home turn, which serves him well at a mile and longer, certainly not seven furlongs, which is one shy of a sprint. To make matters worse, CRIMSON is burdened with 126lb, allowing CURLIN'S AFFAIR nine pounds in an event void of a genuine speed horse to hold the gallop for six furlongs.

Robert Halledeen's job aboard CURLIN'S AFFAIR appears a simple one - track the speed, pounce and leave Subratie's pair for dead coming off the final turn.