Another Affair rounding into shape at the right time

ANOTHER AFFAIR tried really hard but was overpowered by improved DOUBLE CROWN inside the final furlong at eight and a half on last. She lost absolutely no mark in defeat, a ding-dong stretch battle with the gelding, who had clocked 1:31.0 for seven and a half a month prior.

Returning two furlongs shorter in the Ash Wednesday Trophy, ANOTHER AFFAIR will prefer the reduced trip, comfortably tracking any pace set by the possible leader, VICTORY TURN, leaving imported EROY has her only threat should he rebound from the cloud he has been under since early December.

There isn't much early speed to bother, the classy filly who used her pace to finish third in last year's Jamaica Derby, caught inside the last furlong, similar to how she tried to steal the Oaks but was outfinished by ABOVE AND BEYOND.

A relentless galloper, ANOTHER AFFAIR was really put to the millstone in 11 starts last season, her easiest task being right after the COVID-19 lay-up when she beat eventual derby winner, KING ARTHUR, by nine and a quarter lengths at six and a half furlongs.

Reduced distance

After clocking 1:12.0 at six furlongs to take out LABAN on December 27, ANOTHER AFFAIR hardly got a breather before tackling DOUBLE CROWN at level weight on January 23. Though it has only been three and a half weeks since, the reduced distance should be in her favour against EROY.

After clocking a solid 1:37.0 for a mile with topweight 126lb, albeit on a fast track last October, EROY was considered a star on the rise but ran an out-of-sorts race a month later, weakening badly to finish down the track behind ROY ROGERS at nine furlongs and 25 yards.

The sloppy track condition was blamed for that effort, giving the United States-bred a bye as the even-money favourite against SUPERLUMINAL and company on December 5, though reports of a stone squeeze had made him a late scratch on November 21.

EROY again finished down the track, weakening in the stretch run behind SUPERLUMINAL, LEGALITY and BIGBANG at a mile. Two other disappointing performances followed before EROY held second up the lane behind ENGLAND'S ROSE on January 2, but not convincing enough to suggest he was back to his best.

First, EROY was only two and a half lengths ahead of ROHAN KABIR at the finish. Second, he took almost two and a half furlongs to get by CORAZON, who was out for the first time in three months in an event for horses who have never won an overnight allowance race.

ANOTHER AFFAIR might have never won an overnight either but her 1:11.2 split last time out, heading into 1:37.4 for a mile, suggests she is still on top of her game and was only beaten by a stronger gelding, who appears headed for the top ranks.