Paul Matchett’s War Of Athena confirmed her status as one of the top fillies of her year with an emphatic victory to beat arch rival Anything Goes in the R300 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday.
Down 2-1 in her previous clashes with the Pettigrew star Anything Goes, War Of Athena made it three feature victories on the trot, catapulting clear at the 300m after a well conceived tactical plan that saw her stablemate Only The Brave setting the gallop.
Muzi Yeni has formed a winning partnership with the daughter of Act Of War, and the pair made short work of the opposition, storming home as a popular 9-10 fancy to secure the first leg of the 2021 Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara.
War Of Athena clocked 97,59 secs on the officially good ground and runner-up Anything Goes (16-10) was no match for her two lengths away in second.
The rest were in another race, with 10-1 Miss Elegance plodding into third a further 4,50 lengths away in third.
The 1800m of the SA Fillies Classic should be well within War Of Athena’s range.
Her Dynasty sire Act Of War, a son of 2014/15 SA Broodmare of the Year Si Senorita, won to a mile at Gr2 level in his eight victories from twelve starts.
It is on War Of Athena’s dam side that she could also rely on stamina. She is out of a Requiem / Coastal mare Qaphela, who has produced 4 other winners, and is a half-sister to two South African stakes winners – from the same family as Gold Cup winner Desert Links and French Oaks heroine Dunette.
A R30 000 buy from the 2019 Ready To Run Sale, War Of Athena has won 6 races with 5 places from 12 starts for stakes of R786 300.
What a pity that we can’t see alternate SA Triple Tiara first leg winner Captain’s Ransom up in Gauteng to take on War Of Athena for the next leg – the R700 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic is run over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 6 March, in case Justin Snaith is listening.
The third leg is the R375 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Oaks run over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday 3 April.
A bonus of R1 million will be paid to the connections of the filly that wins all three legs.
