In-form Cape stallion Pathfork (Distorted Humor) hails from an outstanding family, and his half-brother, War Of Will (War Front), is doing his bit to keep his famous family in the news.
War Of Will: by War Front ex Visions of Clarity (IRE) by Sadler’s Wells (Pic – Claiborne Farm)
The Claiborne Farm resident was not only a top-class racehorse, but a very versatile one. War Of Will won at the highest level on both dirt and turf, with his four graded victories including the classic Gr1 Preakness Stakes (dirt) at three and the Gr1 Maker’s Mark Mile (turf) at four.
By the same sire as successful sires Declaration Of War, Fire Away and the much missed Lancaster Bomber, War Of Will has made a very encouraging start with his first two-year-olds this year.
Currently the sixth Leading First Crop Sire in North America, War Of Will, runner-up in the Gr1 Summer Stakes at two, has already been represented by seven first crop winners, headed by the stakes placed pair of My Emmy and Garden Of War.
His early winners include She’s Got Will, a winner on debut at Saratoga, and Streets Of War, who broke his maiden by eight and a half lengths.
Given that War Of Will improved with age, it appears safe to say that his progeny should do the same.
War Of Will and Pathfork are sons of Visions Of Clarity (Sadler’s Wells), a Listed winner in France, whose five other winners include Listed Birdstone Stakes/Listed Temperence Hill Stakes winner Tacticus (A.P. Indy).
Visions Of Clarity’s fourth dam Best In Show (Traffic Judge) also ranks as the fourth dam of legendary Australian sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill).
Redoute’s Choice’s Gr1 Computaform Sprint winning son Rafeef was another horse in the news over the weekend, with the Ridgemont resident coming up with three winners at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
Pathfork: by Distorted Humor ex Visions Of Clarity (IRE) by Sadler’s Wells (Pic – Jeremy Nelson)
Best In Show’s numerous high-class descendants include such US champions as Arcangelo (Arrogate) and Rags To Riches (A.P.Indy), champions El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer) and Try My Best (Northern Dancer) and 2024 G1 Schweppes Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire (Almanzor).
She is also ancestress of former champion South African sire Northern Guest (Northern Dancer) as well as young stallion Talk Of The Town (Var).
Former Irish Champion Pathfork (Distorted Humor), winner of the 2010 Gr1 boylesports.com Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, had an excellent season in 2023-2024. Pathfork’s flagbearers last season included Royal Victory (Equus Champion Middle Distance Horse) and multiple graded stakes winner Main Defender.
The top-class Main Defender (Pic – JC Photos)
Between them, Royal Victory and Main Defender won seven black type races, including the Betway Gr1 Summer Cup, Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes and World Pool Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge.
Royal Victory was also named Champion Middle Distance Horse at the recent KZN Racing Awards ceremony.
Pathfork’s good run continued at last Saturday when his daughter Where’s The Party captured the Betway The Lady’s Stakes at Turffontein. The same day saw Pathfork gelding Shifting Path win at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
At the time of writing, Pathfork has been responsible 17 stakes winners from just over 300 runners, which gives the son of Distorted Humor a highly respectable 6% stakes winners to runners.
