Malmoos books date with destiny

War Of Athena also looks set to add her name in the history books

Save the date: Saturday 3 April 2021, because that’s the day racing history could be made by Malmoos and War Of Athena.

Should Malmoos win the Grade 1 WSB SA Derby on that day, he will be a Triple Crown winner. Likewise, War Of Athena needs to win the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks to be crowned Triple Tiara winner.

These two runners booked their date with destiny on Saturday at Turffontein when winning the Grade 1 World Sports Betting SA Classic over 1800m and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic respectively after also winning the first leg of the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara earlier.

“He showed real class today,” said jockey Luke Ferraris after Saturday’s victory by two lengths over Second Base. “He is a champion.”

Catch Twentytwo finished third. Asked whether Malmoos will go the extra in WSB SA Derby and complete the WSB SA Triple Crown, Ferraris replied:

“He’ll go the 2400m.”

Earlier, trainer Mike de Kock said Malmoos would “have a big chance of winning the Derby because 2450m should be no problem for him”.

Jockey Muzi described War Of Athena’s victory on Saturday as “nothing more than an exercise gallop”.

Going off at 7-20, Paul Matchett’s charge cruised to a 1.80-length victory over Netta (15-1), who in turn put 2.40 lengths between herself and third-placed Magical Flight (33-1). Sparkling Water (7-1) was a neck further back in fourth.

“It was an exercise gallop,” said Yeni. “Obviously, a lack of opposition. We had a great game plan from the stable and it worked perfectly.

“She’s a special horse and I’m privileged to be on top of her.”

Stable companion Gee For Go set a somewhat sedate pace up front while Yeni had War Of Athena in sixth place on the outside of Sparkling Water, some five lengths off the leader. But once in the straight, the hot-pot favourite easily made up the ground and hit the front on a tight rein.

From that point on, they were all running for second.

Netta, who Paul Peter was confident of a top-three finish, had been at the back of the field but moved up quickly into second. While not troubling the winner, Warren Kennedy’s mount had the rest well beaten. –