Paul Matchett’s Act Of War filly War Of Athena turned the tables on her undefeated arch-rival Anything Goes, when she showed the benefit of superior race fitness to win the R100 000 Gr3 Three Troikas at Turffontein on Saturday.
In a quality five horse field, all eyes were on Stuart Pettigrew’s unbeaten-in-five Anything Goes, who was having her first run since winning the Gr2 Joburg Fillies And Mares Spring Challenge over 1450m on 3 October.
She had been withdrawn from the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup so she clearly has had her issues – but full marks to Muzi Yeni and the bargain buy War Of Athena.
Muzi Yeni has War Of Athena in control as Marco van Rensburg plugs away on Anything Goes (Pic -JC Photos)
After Caralluma had made the running, War Of Athena and top weight Anything Goes locked horns briefly down the rail – but in receipt of a kilo, War Of Athena (17-10) was full of enthusiasm and she gunned clear to beat Anything Goes (2-1) by 1,75 lengths in a time of 86,73 secs.
Caralluma (4-1) was beaten a further 1,25 lengths into third.
A R30 000 buy from the 2019 Ready To Run Sale, War Of Athena has won 5 races with 5 places from 11 starts for stakes of R576 300.
Bred by Summerhill, War Of Athena is by Act Of War, one of the very best sons of deceased SA Horse Of The Year, Dynasty, out of the Requiem mare, Qaphela.
The SA Triple Tiara is next – 6 February at Turffontein with the running of the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas!
