David Thiselton
THE Mike de Kock-trained Malmoos and the Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena confirmed their class yesterday in the  Grade 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas and Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas respectively under high-flying jockeys Luke Ferraris and Muzi Yeni.
War Of Athena strikes as one who could have a tilt at the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara if winning the second leg over 1800m while Malmoos has a chance of staying the Derby distance on pedigree so the WSB SA Triple Crown is still alive.   It was a fine day for Matchett, who had four winners in all, while Johan Janse van Vuuren won the last three races of the meeting, including the Grade 3 Wilgerbosdrift Tommy Hotspur Handicap with True To Life.  
Malmoos is now unbeaten in four starts at Turffontein and his only loss in six starts has been in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas. He was unlucky in the latter race and yesterday’s result puts him back in contention for Equus Champion Three-year-old. The two mid-season blips for the male sophomore crop, firstly Mount Pleasant’s flop in the WSB Dingaans and then 100/1 shot Russian Rock’s Cape Guineas win, have proven to be false alarms as the form coming out of both of those races, including in yesterday’s Guineas, has proven to be anything but weak.
Malmoos, a good looking Varsfontein Stud-bred bay, has a pedigree to match his record and could one day be in a stallion barn.
He is by Captain Al out of Fort Wood mare Justthewayyouare, who is a half-sister to prominent sire Master Of My Fate.
Justthewayyouare won the Listed Spook Express Handicap over 2600m, which gives Malmoos a shout of staying the Grade 1 WSB SA Derby distance, although he has inherited plenty of speed from his sire Captain Al.
He should enjoy the 1800m trip of the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic, but is going to face stiff opposition, particularly from yesterday’s runner up Catch Twentytwo.
Malmoos broke well from pole position and had the run of the race after the widely drawn Bingwa moved around him to take the lead.  
Catch Twentytwo, winner of the WSB Dingaans and Tony Ruffel Stakes, jumped from draw two and was initially caught outside of Malmoos before being shuffled back to fifth position. He sat behind outsider Kingsley’s Heart, who was running outside of Malmoos’ tail. Copper Mountain sat behind Malmoos on the rail. The latter’s more fancied stablemate Second Base sat in second last position in the nine horse field with Mount Pleasant outside of him.
In the straight Malmoos cruised up on the inside of Bingwa but Copper Mountain was soon challenging him further inside. These two became involved in a ding-dong battle and it was only at about the 150m mark that Malmoos was able to shake Copper Mountain off.
Meanwhile, the tall Catch Twentytwo had slowly wound up into top gear and began eating up the ground in the final two hundred metres. However, it was too late and he was a quarter-of-a-length shy at the line.
The gallant Copper Mountain was beaten 1,40 lengths into third, although he was eased up late. Second Base stayed on resolutely for a two length fourth and Bingwa repeated his WSB Dingaans finish exactly, a 2,50 length fifth.
Catch Twentytwo will relish the SA Classic trip and Second Base, winner of the Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m, should also. Copper Mountain, by Noble Tune out of a Fort Wood mare who won over 2000m,  should also enjoy the step up in trip.  
Mount Pleasant, who started odds-on for the Dingaans, flopped again and finished last, beaten 19 lengths. He is either a sprinter or is replicating  the career of his sire Vancouver, who was unbeaten at two but never got going as a three-year-old.  
War Of Athena was the star of the day and remains alongside Captain’s Ransom as the best of her crop. The R30,000 Summerhill Stud-bred daughter of Act Of War jumped well and was initially caught one wide. However, Muzi Yeni could afford to ease her back because stablemate Only The Brave was ensuring a strong pace in front. Another stablemate, Gee For Go, then moved around War Of Athena to give her a tow into the straight.
Anything Goes had meanwhile been dropped out and was in second last place on the rail, just a length off her arch rival War Of Athena.  
War Of Athena crept up under the hands in the straight. Anything Goes was unfortunately unable to find a gap to burst through and was forced to switch around War Of Athena just after the 300m mark. However, War Of Athena accelerated superbly at the same time leaving Anything Goes with too much ground to make up. It is unlikely she would have beaten War Of Athena in any event as she was two lengths shy at the line. Miss Elegance was third, beaten 6,50 lengths, and Castle Durrow and Only The Brave were next best. Caralluma failed for the third time over this trip and was sixth in the seven horse field with Fillies Mile winner Gee For Go last.
War Of Athena’s dam by Requiem has produced three middle distance to staying winners so the Triple Tiara is in her sights.
Malmoos did record the better time on the day 97,36 seconds compared to the filly’s 97.59 seconds.  
In the Wilgerbosdrift Tommy Hotspur Handicap, True To LIfe, a Northfields Stud-bred four-year-old filly by Duke Of Marmalade, produced a late rattle under Gavin Lerena to record her second Grade 3 win over this 1160m course and distance and sixth career win overall.