With many of the country’s Champion stallions of recent years moving on to greener pastures South Africa is in dire need of some young guns to fill the void left by these legends of the turf.
One young sire who has firmly stepped up to the plate to fill the void left by stallions such as Captain Al, Dynasty, Jet Master and Silvano, is the Summerhill Equestrian based Act Of War, whose first few crops to race are taking the country by storm.
Act Of War
A superb racehorse, and graded stakes winner at two, three and four, Act Of War has made a sensational start to his stud career.
His stellar first crop is headed by recent Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner War Of Athena, (owned by loyal supporters Mr & Mrs Wentzel) who recently claimed her fifth consecutive graded stakes win when romping home to a brilliant victory in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks, with the Paul Matchett trained filly’s earnings currently standing at over R1.4 million and counting.
The star filly, who was so impressive when victorious in the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, had tongues wagging with superlative quotes understandably flying around from seasoned professionals such as @AliCat_Cohen90 who said: “Next time bring bombs.”
Regular pilot Muzi Yeni “It was simply an exercise gallop”.
One can understand why when you watch the race below!
However, Act Of War is by no means a one hit wonder – other smart performers to have graduated from the son of Dynasty’s first crop include the very smart Bartholdi, the stakes placed Stella Act, smart filly Only The Brave, Battle Force -who won four in a row, and several other recent debut winners.
Watch Battle Force run below:
Watch Bartholdi run below:
He currently sports an impressive strike rate of 40% winners to runners, comparable to the very best stallions this country has seen and that despite not having the greatest quality of mares in his first few seasons. That, one suspects, is about to change!
Act Of War has a phenomenal Average Earnings Per Runner (AEPR) which currently stands at R66 232 -higher than similar figures for such standout stallions as Captain Al, Vercingetorix, Trippi, Silvano and Gimmethegreenlight.
Act Of War has made a pleasing start with his two-year-olds this season including the impressive recent debut winners Shield Of Roses and Tip Of The Spear, as well as the smart, feature race contender Rollwiththepunches.
Act Of War’s success with his two-year-olds comes as no surprise given the fact that he himself was a top-class juvenile, winning three of just four starts at two, including both the Gr3 Langerman and Listed Winter Juvenile Stakes.
Act Of War seems destined to follow in the footsteps of late great Captain Al, Dynasty and Jet Master and become a top-class South African home bred stallion.
A son of Dynasty (Fort Wood), Act Of War was a top-class racehorse, whose eight wins, from just 12 starts, included six graded victories, and he joined the likes of Captain Al, Hawaii, and Jet Master as winners of one of South Africa’s most prestigious classics when capturing the breed shaping Cape Guineas in 2014.
(He also played his part in South African racing history with his dominant win in the 2014 Gr2 Selangor Cup provided legendary jockey Piere Strydom with the 5000th win of his career.
Act Of War’s success in the Gr1 Cape Guineas, see link below, came over an outstanding field, with his beaten rivals headed by champion Harry’s Son, and fellow graded stakes winners Kingvoldt, Balance Sheet, Light The Lights and Brutal Force.
Like dual Horse Of The Year Variety Club, Act Of War added the G3 Winter Guineas to his Cape Guineas triumph after both horses had finished second in the Gr1 Cape Derby of his year.
Act Of War can be seen taking out the Winter Guineas in the clip below -a race also won in recent times by the likes of the mighty Pocket Power (three times Horse Of The Year in South Africa), Marinaresco (July winning champion), and the aforementioned Variety Club.
The latter was the highest rated horse ever to leave South African shores, with the authoritative Timeform rating agency affording him a rating of 131 after winning the Hong Kong Champions Mile in 2014.
A horse with the speed to win over 1200m at two, Act Of War also had the class and stamina to finish second in the 2015 Gr1 Cape Derby, where he was beaten only by Ertijaal -who subsequently went on to finish third in Dubai’s Gr1 Jebel Hatta the following year.
He trained on well to land the Gr3 Kuda Matchem Stakes at four, and ended his career with earnings of R1.825 million.
The Arc-en-Ciel bred Act Of War’s success, both on the racetrack, and at stud, came as no surprise, given the strength of his pedigree.
A son of Horse Of The Year and four times Equus Outstanding Stallion Dynasty, Act Of War’s dam Si Senorita was South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year in 2014-2015. Herself a stakes placed winner of four, and granddaughter of incomparable champion El Gran Senor, Si Senorita’s four black type horses (sired by four different stallions) include not only the brilliant Act Of War but also fellow Gr3 Langerman winner Subastador and Off To Stud Handicap heroine Luna De Victoria.
While a final fee yet to be advised for the forthcoming breeding season, given his significant success to date and the bright future that lies ahead, Act Of War’s equity is highly likely to rise significantly in years to come.
If you want to go to war, be with Act of War!
To follow his progress on Twitter- click here.
And to follow his progress on Facebook- click here.
