War Of Athena winning the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 (Picture: Candiese Lenferna).

Rags-to-riches superstar War Of Athena is in foal to Vercingetorix.

Her owner Dr Rose Waterman-Wentzel said, “She is 100 days in. Dr Marianne Thompson (Ambiance Stud), Dr Helen Tiffin and the team at Maine Chance Farms (where Vercingetorix stands) have been amazing.”

The Summerhill Stud-bred War Of Athena, who is a member of Dynasty stallion Act Of War’s first crop, was purchased for a mere R30,000 at the BSA Ready To Run Sale  and went on to famously land the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.

She ended her three-year-old season with two Grade 1 victories (Wilgerbosdrift SA Classic and Woolavington 2000), three Grade 2s and a Grade 3 and was named Equus Champion three-year-old in a crop which included the like of Captain’s Ransom, Princess Calla and Sparkling Water.

In all she had 20 starts for eleven wins and stakes earnings of  R1,908,300.

She was a small filly but had a big action and was known for her exceptional turn of foot and immense courage.

She ran herself into the hearts of the racing public and became known as “the darling of the South African turf.”    

Dr Waterman-Wentzel is going to fill in the gaps for Turf Talk tomorrow in a more comprehensive article.