Paul Matchett’s SA Triple Tiara winner War Of Athena put her hand up as a genuine SA Horse Of The Year candidate when she made it six graded victories on the trot and slammed her five rivals to win the R500 000 Gr1 Woolavington 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The daughter of Act Of War again made a mockery of her R30 000 price tag, when changing gears late to repel a cheeky but vain late challenge from Adam Marcus’ top galloper Princess Calla, to register her ninth win from 15 starts and taker earnings to over R1,7 million.
After stablemate Only The Brave set a fair gallop, Muzi Yeni launched War Of Athena (9-10) from the box seat at the 350m.
Muzi Yeni and War Of Athena make Gr1 racing look easy! (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
With Princess Calla (3-1) looking dangerous late, Yeni changed crop hands and the Matchett champ simply kicked away effortlessly from the Cape challenger to win going away by 2,10 lengths in a time of 124,95 secs.
Scented Mistress (40-1) finished well to get within a head of the runner-up, with Chat Ching (40-1) in fourth.
Recent Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg winner and Vodacom Durban July entry Netta failed to feature and finished out of the money and just over 5 lengths off the winner.
War Of Athena was bred by Summerhill Stud and is out of Requiem 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, she has made the Roy and Dr Rose Wentzel proud.
Watch the replay here:
Trainer Paul Matchett labelled War Of Athena a ‘filly in a million’.
“Hollywoodbets Greyville is a tricky track and anything can go wrong. But I’m happy that it went well,” he said, adding that a decision on the Vodacom Durban July will be made this week.
Yeni complimented Matchett and his team for keeping the fabulous filly on the go for over eight months. That length of time may be what will be the dealmaker when they sit down to decide on the July entry.
