Classy filly Gimme A Shot showed tremendous promise early in her career, winning or finishing in the first three in her first six starts. She was particularly impressive when romping home to claim the 2022 G2 Betway Ipi Tombe Stakes when pulverizing such high-class fillies as Under Your Spell, Feather Boa and Marigold Hotel. Also, runner up in the G2 Prosport International Debutante at two, Gimme A Shot has earned nearly R500 000 in prize money.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds are in the fortuitous position of being able to offer a half-sister (Lot 45) to Gimme A Shot at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.

A daughter of a proven G1 sire in the form of Act Of War, the filly in question also hails from the same family as champions Jay Peg and Kochka, as well as such high-class fillies as Cat And The Moon, Light Of The Moon and Shoot The Booze.

Act Of War, whose progeny also include champion War Of Athena and fellow G1 winner Battle Force, is also represented here by Casus Belli (144), a colt out of classy racemare Comme-Ci-Comme-Ca, and a half-brother (Lot 195) to Listed Bauhinia Handicap runner up Linear.

Other appealing lots on offer include Snow Moon (Lot 23), a Last Winter half-brother to G3 Umzimkhulu Stakes third African Dream, Barry Du Grond (Lot 72) a Last Winter colt out of G2 winner Tempted, and the New Predator half-brother (Lot 127) to speedy filly Chilly Winter.

This draft can be viewed from Block C at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

The 2yo well related and well grown chestnut full brother to Gr1 2nd placed Bartholdi, and a half brother to Gr1 winner Bohica, Wyzeact by Act Of War impressed on debut and finished second by just a nose in a fighting finish for his connections.

Selling for R375 000 off the 2022 BSA August 2YO Sale, Wyzeact is out of Wysiwyg by Mullins Bay, voted KZN Breeders Broodmare Of The Year in 2022 after both of her sons impressive Gr1 efforts.

She is due to foal to Master Of My Fate this season. This is the family of Mannequin, Kalami and Brave Voyager.

Watch Wyzeact debut run:

Keivan Stud bred Machete Man by Act Of War won the World Sports Betting East Cape Listed for trainer Justin Snaith and owner Mr Kesavan Naidoo.

Out of Var mare Amazing Var, from the family of Tomorrow’s Miss and Naan Khaatay, the chestnut gelding sold for R200 000 off the August 2YO Sale of 2022.

The gelding ridden by Luyolo Mxothwa has won his last three starts in a row, and is a four time winner in total.

Machete Man becomes Act Of War’s fourth individual Stakes Winner, amongst War Of Athena, Battle Force and Rollwiththepunches. His wins have come over distances of 1800m -2200m.

Act Of War by Dynasty stands at Summerhill Equestrian, and is boasting a winners to runners percentage of 42.9% with two Black Type wins for the season and an impressive Average Earnings Per Runner of R65 283.

Act Of War has 11 yearlings on offer headed to the KZN Yearling Sale, including a half brother to recent Gr3 winner, Cliff Hanger.

Vanessa William’s Keivan Stud is on 35% winners to runners for the season and an AEPR of R68 000.

Congratulations to all concerned.

Rollwiththepunches joins War Of Athena, Bartholdi, Battle Force, Bold Act and Stella Act on the list of Black Type horses for Summerhill Equestrian sire Act Of War, winning the Gr3 World Sports Betting Tommy Hotspur by a quarter of a length over 1000m in very soft going.

The Summerhill Stud bred is a half brother to Greasepaint, who amongst his record of 12 wins and multiple places finished second in the same race mentioned above, and to the evergreen Ginger Biscuit who managed 11 wins for trainer Pat Lunn.

Dam Lady Red, by Russian Revival, has seen her progeny achieve 43 wins and 103 places between them!

Rollwiththepunches doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon if his siblings records are anything to go by; he is a six time winner and this was his fourth win on the trot for trainer Roy Magner and owners Messrs M S Cruickshank & S M Leahy.

A R160 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, he has earned R507,125 in stakes.

Act Of War is on 41% winners to runners currently, with an Average Earnings Per Runner of R44 246 and there will be more success to come in the future with his full books he has covered in the last two years at stud.

Another #kznbred to impress was that of Electric Gold, running a brilliant race to come from behind to place third in the Gr2 WSB Gauteng Guineas under Muzi Yeni. He may prefer further and should relish the extra distance on offer in the next leg of the Triple Crown, the Gr1 SA Classic over 1800m.

Congratulations to all concerned.

The multiple Group winning daughter of Brave Tin Soldier who experienced narrow defeats to finish second in the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes (twice) and Summer Cup to potentially get her well deserved Gr1 status, won the Gr2 Gold Bracelet twice and the KZN Breeders Million Mile, as well as the London News Gr3.

She won 8 races in total and five Stakes Places, to earn over R1,9-million for her connections.

A R30 000 astute buy off the 2017 National 2YO Sale, her Vercingetorix half sister was purchased by Greg Bortz at Nationals this year for R700 000, named Miracle In Motion.

Out of Jet Master mare Movingandgrooving, this is the female line of Love Is In The Air, Silver Flyer, Jet Jamboree and O Tamara and Running Brave certainly has the height and size of her champion broodmare sire.

Act Of War is the sire of Triple Tiara and multiple Gr1 winner War Of Athena, Gr1 sprint winner Battle Force and Gr1 sprint runner up Bartholdi.

Act Of War enjoyed an exemplary full book in 2021.

War Of Athena looked back to her best on Saturday, winning a quality Pinnacle at Turffontein which included Triple Crown winner Malmoos.

After a 5th in the Gr1 WSB Summer Cup in a tough race, this was the 11th win for the 4yo daughter of Act Of War who took her earnings to over R1,9-million.

She is Merit Rated 122 and carried 59kgs, with 2nd placed Tierra del Fuego carrying 54kgs finishing a neck behind.

The same winning combination of Dr Rosemary Waterman Wentzel and Roy Wentzel, trainer Paul Matchett and regular pilot Muzi Yeni, saw more success on Monday at Turffontein with Clifton-bred daughter of Act Of War, Shield Of Roses, winning her third race from just five starts. She is out of a Captain Al mare.

To add to it all, Paul Peter-trained McKenna Skye – a 3yo half-sister to multiple Gr2 winner MK’s Pride, won for the second time on Monday. Both of her wins have come over 1400m, interestingly her Black Type half-brothers best distance.

The Summerhill Stud-bred out of Admire Main mare Ikimasu, is owned by the Miestre’s in partnership with the Hyperpaint Syndicate.

Act Of War was crowned KZN’s Stallion Of The Year at the recent Awards that took place earlier in December.

He stands at Summerhill Equestrian.

Summerhill Equestrian sire Act Of War enjoyed a double at Turffontein on Saturday. The other sire to feature of Summerhill Equestrian was Willow Magic.

Bartholdi, a half-brother to the smart and handsome Bohica (Capetown Noir) sold for R180 000 at the 2019 BSA Ready To Run Sale. Trained by Australian-bound Gary Alexander for syndicate Mrs J P Gardner and Messrs R G Coppin, B G Gardner and C J Millar, Gary Alexander Racing Stables CC and Summerhill Stud Syndicate (Nom: Mr M J B Goss), Bartholdi has won twice and placed from just four starts!

The three year old gelding is out of Mullins Bay mare Wysiwig, from dam of recent smart winner Aisling, and Spring Spree Listed winner Bohica. Wysiwig is from the immediate family of Gr1 2nd placed Kalami and 12-time winner Mannequin. Wysiwig has a Rabada yearling to come through.

The second winner came from a trainer who is enjoying phenomenal success with another daughter of Act Of War, War Of Athena – this time winning with Only The Brave for trainer Paul Matchett – also a graduate of the 2019 BSA Ready To Run Sale.

She sold for R150 000, and is superbly bred out of the mare Spring Garland which produced international SAF-bred winners Imbongi and Mahubo – and is the family of William Longsword, Kelly, and Victory Moon amongst others. Only The Brave has now won twice for owners
Mr R S Wentzel & Dr R E Waterman-Wentzel and placed four times – only out of the money on one occasion.

Act Of War now has a winners to runners percentage of 30%, with two Black Type wins for the current season with War Of Athena. War Of Athena is a 5-time winner, Gr1 2nd placed and the winner of a Gr2 and Gr3 and owned in the same partnership as Only The Brave.

Summerhill Equestrian report that the Gr1 winning son of Dynasty has covered almost 80 mares in the 2020 season – we look forward to more to come in the future!

Act Of War took home the KZN Breeders Award for Outstanding Stallion Prospect in 2020.

Summerhill Stud-bred filly War Of Athena once again met up with her rival Anything Goes, and this time took home the victory in the Gr3 Three Troikas – whilst the courageous Running Brave added yet another Group victory to her record – beating the boys to take home the Gr3 London News Stakes.

Another to feature for Summerhill Equestrian was MK’s Pride – the son of Willow Magic finished 2nd in the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes, with Rathmor Stud’s Copper Mountain 3rd.

War Of Athena has been close to the previously five-time unbeaten filly and this time her race fitness proved the advantage, to win by almost two full lengths. The filly is out of a Requiem / Coastal mare, and shares a female line with the smart Rossi-Bred Captain Tatters, trained by Justin Snaith.

Summerhill Equestrian are pleased to report that her Dynasty sire, Act Of War, had found great support in his 3rd season and covered almost 80 mares in the 2020 season.

Act Of War is currently on 31% winners to runners and his 29 runners for the season have earned over R800 000 in stakes so far taking into consideration the current reduced stakes.

Proving that horses don’t know their sales prices – both War Of Athena and Running Brave were knocked down to Paul Matchett respectively for R30 000 at the 2019 Ready To Run Sale and the 2017 National 2YO Sale.

Running Brave, who had her first Group win for her owner turned trainer Fanie Bronkhorst, certainly lives up to her name and beat the boys to take the Gr3 London News Stakes. She defeated a field that included the likes of Gr1 Summer Cup winner Zillzaal, Barahin, Divine Odyssey and Green Haze.

The daughter of Brave Tin Soldier carries a superb race record and has an excellent rapport with her jockey Muzi Yeni. She has given Bronkhorst a superb return for his sales outlay, earned over R1,700 000 – winning 8 races with 12 places from 30 starts. This is the family of Silver Flyer, Jet Jamboree, Love Is In The Air and O Tamara.

Brave Tin Soldier resides at Jill Fox’s The Fort Stud, and from limited numbers has produced excellent Group winning stats which include his son at Spring Valley Stud – Rabada – as well as export Brave Mary.

Congratulations to Summerhill!

Act Of War enjoyed success yesterday at the Vaal as his 2yo son Rollwiththepunches won on debut over 800m for trainer Roy Magner.

The smart colt out of Lady Red sold at the end of July for R160 000 at the National Yearling Sale, and is owned by Messrs M S Cruickshank and S M Leahy. In the process, he also won the Bloodstock South Africa Juvenile Bonus of R60 000 for his connections.

He is a half-brother to Admire Main 10-time winner Ginger Biscuit, as well as multiple winners Caliente and 12-time winner Greasepaint – based on his family history, there is definitely much more to come!

Act Of War is off with a bang to stud with his daughter War Of Athena a Gr2 winner and multiple Gr1 placed.

Act Of War was very well supported and covered almost 80 mares this past season. He stands at Summerhill Equestrian in Mooi River.

Paul Matchett’s Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge winner and #kznbred War Of Athena is among the 14 entries for the World Sports Betting R500 000 Cape Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday 12 December.

Exciting War Of Athena may be racing at Kenilworth next Saturday.

She ran out an emphatic 1,75-length winner of the Gr2 feature last Saturday over Queen Supreme, with Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes champion Sentbydestiny the same distance back in third. Muzi Yeni rode the winner.

War Of Athena has drawn No 9 of the 14 nominations for the Cape Fillies Guineas.

The home contingent is headed up by Justin Snaith-trained Captain’s Ransom, winner of three of her four races. Last time out she stayed on well to win the Gr 3 Diana Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville, beating Clouds Unfold narrowly. She has drawn at No 6.

Also run on the day are the Gr2 Green Point Stakes over 1600m, the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200m and the Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m. 

Act Of War took home the KZN Breeders Award for Stallion Prospect on Saturday evening, and stands at Henning Pretorius’ Summerhill Equestrian.

R500 000 1600m (Turf)
CAPE FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 1)