War Of Athena named the Highveld’s Champion Horse

Filly War Of Athena has been named Highveld Champion Horse of the 2020/21 season by the Racing Association.

The daughter of Act Of War also took the Champion Three-Year-Old Filly award after winning six graded races in a row, including all legs of the Triple Tiara at Turffontein.

Trained by Paul Matchett, War Of Athens is owned by Roy Wentzel and his wife Dr Ruth Waterman-Wentzel. She was bred by Summerhill Stud.

The Triple Crown was also won during the season – by Malmoos, who was named Champion Three-Year-Old Colt by the RA. He is owned by the estate of the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, trained by Mike de Kock and bred by Varsfontein Stud.

The RA – the owners’ body for the Highveld, in the Western and Eastern Cape – has not been able to hold live events due to Covid-19, so did not stage the usual celebratory functions. The Highveld trophies will be handed over to the winners at a Turffontein race meeting on 11 September.

The RA said it considered it important “to honour the equine and human winners who entertained racing enthusiasts throughout the racing season”.

Champion Two-Year-Old Filly:

Sheela

(owned by Drakenstein Stud, trained by MG/AA Azzie and bred by Drakenstein)

Champion Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding:

Smorgasbord

(owned by Messrs JF & LMF Wernars & Mr H Wilson & Mrs T J Wernars, trained by Paul Peter and bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein)

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly:

War of Athena

(owned by Mr RS Wentzel and Dr RE Waterman-Wentzel, trained by Paul Matchett and bred by Summerhill Stud)

Champion Older Horse:

Gotthegreenlight

(owned by Messrs D Chinsammy, H Adams and JA Soma, trained by Joe Soma and bred by Nadeson Park Stud)

Champion Sprinter:

Rio Querari

(owned Mrs RD Edmondson & Bryn Ressell & Dr JA Warner, trained by Justin Snaith and bred by Normandy Stud)

Champion Middle-Distance Horse:

Summer Pudding

(owned by Mauritzfontein, trained by Paul Peter and bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein)

Champion Stayer:

African Adventure

(owned by Messrs JT Peter & JA Soma, trained by Joe Soma and bred by Mr and Mrs JR Slade)

Champion Work Rider                      

Joe Gwingwizha

Champion Groom

Jack Landile

Champion Apprentice                        

Luke Ferraris

Champion Jockey                             

S’Manga Khumalo

Champion Trainer                              

Paul Peter

Champion Breeder                            

Summerhill Stud

Champion Owner                              

Chris van Niekerk