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 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!

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)

The World Sports Betting Summer Cup Day rendered exciting results for #kznbreds, and in particular the feature race as the aptly named Running Brave began her run and was leading, chased the mighty Summer Pudding to the finish, to concede to second place by two lengths but by no means ashamed in defeat.

The Brave Tin Soldier filly who was another bargain for trainer Paul Matchett who picked her up for R30 000 at the National 2YO Sale, and has won two Gr2 Kuda Gold Bracelets amongst her many wins in good company – she is another horse that has built up a superb rapport with her regular jockey, Muzi Yeni.

She accelerated to leave 5 lengths between herself and third place finishing Tree Tumbo, with #kznbred Dance Class finishing 4th for St John Gray. Dance Class is bred on the same cross that produced a Summer Cup winner for St John with the star Dancewiththedevil.

Of the top 4 to finish, 3 were fillies. Her sire Brave Tin Soldier stands at The Fort Stud, and from small numbers has produced several Gr1 results and his son Rabada stands at Spring Valley Stud.

War Of Athena, who shares a trainer with Running Brave in Paul Matchett, showed her class once more to win the Gr2 WSB Ipi Tombe Challenge from Gr1 winner, Queen Supreme. Another “cheapie” at just R30 000 off the 2019 BSA Ready To Run Sale, the daughter of Act Of War gave her young sire his first Gr2 win. She has been a star, placing a close second in the Gr1 Thekweni Stakes and winning the recent Ready To Run Cup.

Her sire Act Of War stands at Summerhill Equestrian, owned by Henning Pretorius and he is off to a promising start indeed.

Another superb effort is the smart Winter Smoke, who ‘smoked’ them once again to take the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap. Bred by Richard Fitzgerald and consigned to Nationals by Spring Valley Stud, the Ashley Fortune speedster won well under Calvin Habib. Proving that horses don’t know their price – two fillies from Scott Bros finished 3rd and 4th behind Winter Smoke – that of Double O’ Eight (Eightfold Path) and Suzette Viljoen’s Linear (Crusade).

Both of the latter were offered for sale off the Scott Bros famous Highdown Stud after either not qualifying for sales or being not sold, and were sold directly off the farm months later and have rewarded their respective owners significantly on the racetracks.

Paul Peter had a smashing day with his filly Summer Pudding, and enjoyed a 1-2 in the Gr2 WSB Dingaans, with the smart son of Willow Magic finishing 2nd just two lengths off. Ridden by Warren Kennedy, MK’s Pride owned by Koos Mkale is the mirror in looks to his Gr1 winning sire, from conformation to markings at Summerhill Equestrian.

Congratulations to the breeders, trainers and owners concerned on a great days results and racing!

Summerhill Equestrian saw a 1-2 in the weekends Peermont Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup presented by BSA, with Willow Magic’s son MK’s Pride snatching it in a close finish from the Act Of War’s sharp filly, the Gr1 placed War Of Athena.

It is also the smashing story for lucky owner Mr M K Nkale, whose colt that passed through the BSA Ready To Run Sale in 2019 unsold. [Watch his Ready To Run Gallop HERE]

The colt, a dead ringer for sire Willow Magic and a grandson of the mighty Dubawi, has won 3 times from 4 starts trained by Paul Peter and took home the lions share of the R900 000 stake on offer on Saturday.

MK’s Pride, originally named Alaunus is out of an Admire Main mare, who has produced a previous winner and is a half-sister to Gr2 placed Corredor.

This is also the family of Gondolier, Freedom Charter and Ernie.

A Gr1 winning sprinter, Willow Magic has produced 10 wins this season.

Trainer Paul Peter said he was thrilled that the fairytale had unfolded for the Nkale family.

“When I spoke to Koos before the race, he said what will be will be. So no pressure – even from a brand new owner. He has been in racing for thirty years so understands the game. He has a beautiful laid-back horse. We will go next for the Dingaans. MK’s Pride will enjoy the mile. We will only see the best from this chap later on,” an elated Peter told the Sporting Post.

In an emotional – and lengthy – post race interview, Mr Nkale, who selected and bought the winner himself for R100 000, indicated that he was a spiritual man, who was thrilled for his family, the Peter team, and even for South Africa.

“When I saw Summer Pudding win, I decided Mr Paul Peter was my trainer. This is a wonderful day for racing and for South Africa – we prayed and I thank the Almighty,” he said.

In a further chapter of a genuine fairytale of a story, MK’s Pride races in the black and gold of soccer side, Kaizer Chiefs. Mr Nkale is one of the most passionate of the top team’s 16 million supporters.

MK’s Pride has earned R531 600 and has won 3 of his 4 starts.

With the scratching of Anything Goes, War Of Athena was a firm favourite to take the race.

Act Of War, a Gr1 winning son of Dynasty has had 5 wins this season and has produced Black Type with two fillies – twice Gr1 placed War Of Athena and Stella Act, the latter has a full sister on offer at the upcoming National 2YO Sale consigned by Rathmor Stud as agent.

Paul Matchett is very shrewd at picking quality horses for little money, and War Of Athena is another example – having sold for just R30 000 – Paul’s other success was Gr1 winning French export Brave Mary (R40 000), and multiple Gr2 winner Running Brave (R30 000 purchase).

She has pure Summerhill pedigree, being out of a Requiem / Coastal mare who has produced 4 other winners, and from the family of Captain Tatters and Desert Links. She placed a very close 2nd to unbeaten Anything Goes in her penultimate start, to finish 2nd in the Gr1 Thekweni Stakes.

Contact stud@capitalstud.co.za for more information on Act Of War and Willow Magic.