Anything Goes, War Of Athena renew rivalry

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Muhammed Ali and George Foreman, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Throughout sporting history, fans thrive about a great rivalry.

While this one is still in its “nursery stage”, the competition between Anything Goes and War Of Athena has started to catch on. These two three-year-old fillies have dominated the races in which they have run and tomorrow racing fans will be able to enjoy “The Rivalry -Part IV” when they line up in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein.

This race is the alternative first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, with the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas also qualifying.

How fantastic it would be if Justin Snaith could be enticed to bring Captain’s Ransom to Turffontein to contest the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m next month!

However, with no disrespect to the other seven runners in this race, it would come as a shock if any filly other than Anything Goes or War Of Athena was to take top honours.

At this stage Stuart Pettigrew’s charge leads the head-to-head 2-1, winning their first two meetings. War Of Athena closed the gap in the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes over 1400m at this track but Anything Goes was in need of the run and the contest with Paul Matchett’s charge should be a lot more competitive on Saturday.

“She’s improved three to four lengths on that last run,” said Pettigrew yesterday.

“She hadn’t run for three months when they last met and was only about 80% right. But now she’s spot on and is a different horse.

“With all the rain the trick has been trying to get in the work. But she’s had two grass gallops and she is fit.”

Be assured, though, War Of Athena will not go down without a fight and we should get a lot of confidence from Muzi Yeni in his column in tomorrow’s Citizen.

Of the balance Gee For Go looks best and is the one to include in Swingers and Trifectas.