With earnings of over a half million rand in her short career, Paul Matchett’s astute R30 000 purchase War Of Athena enjoyed an impressive return to winning ways when she won the R150 000 World Sports Betting Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday.
War Of Athena bounds to victory under Muzi Yeni, leaving Queen Supreme (Callan Murray) trailing in her wake (Pic – JC Photos)
In an appropriate race named in honour of one of the great horses to come out of his homeland, the Zimbabwe-born trainer gave his staunch owners Dr Rose Waterman-Wentzel and Roy Wentzel plenty to smile about after a terrific week. Their Gimmethegreenlight filly Gee To Go won the Gr3 Fillies Mile at the same venue a week ago.
Muzi Yeni rode the smart winner, who at her previous start had come within a heartbeat of winning the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup behind Saturday’s Dingaans runner-up, MK’s Gold.
In a clinically correct performance on a wet Saturday, War Of Athena came forward at the 350m marker to match strides with the talented topweight Queen Supreme. But she was too strong and drew away for an effortless 1,75 length win in a time of 98,28 secs.
Paul Matchett is one of the most astute buyers around – the winner cost R30 000, the same price paid for his accomplished WSB Gauteng Summer Cup runner-up Running Brave!
The winner has a pure Summerhill pedigree.
She is out of Requiem / Coastal mare Qaphela, who has produced 4 other winners, and hails from the family of Captain Tatters and Desert Links.
A R30 000 buy from the 2019 Ready To Run Sale, War Of Athena has won 4 races with 5 places from 10 starts for stakes of R516 300.
She is by Act Of War, one of the very best sons of deceased SA Horse Of The Year, Dynasty.
Act Of War won eight of only 12 starts. His six graded victories included the 2014 Gr1 Cape Guineas, as well the Gr2 Selangor Cup, Gr3 Matchem Stakes, Gr3 Langerman and Gr3 Cape Classic. He was unplaced just once from 12 start and earned R1 820 500. He is one of seven winners produced by the stakes placed Cordoba mare Si Senorita. The latter was South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year in 2014-2015.
