ACT OF WAR
He wasn't only the best miler of his generation. He was one of the best I've known. The horse to go to war with.
Anton Marcus, Champion Jocket
Act of War represents the prospect of accessing one of the best-performed sons of one of history’s best stallions.
Given his lineage, it comes as no surprise that Act of War excelled on the racecourse. His sire was a champion breeding stallion (Dynasty) and his dam a Broodmare of the Year (Si Senorita).
Six wins on the trot, eight victories, and two runners-up in his first ten starts would commend any thoroughbred for a stud career. And, yet, with Act of War, one only needs to watch his races and victories to realise that the results give only half the picture. His sheer presence and athletic stature merely hint at the impressive nature with which he decimated the field on the track to emerge victorious time after time.
In the words of Mick Goss, “The Cape Guineas (G1) is many people’s idea of the principal “stallion-maker” on the South African turf calendar. Both of the country’s standout domestically-campaigned stallions, Captain Al and Dynasty, shone in that classic. Yet of all the glittering performances the race has produced over the decades, few stand comparison with Act of War’s facile disposal of the previous season’s generational champion, Harry’s Son. It wasn’t just a matter of who he beat though. It was the manner of the beating that counted; the same “X-Factor” that demolished his foes in the Selangor Cup (G2), the Cape Classic (G3), the Langerman (G3) and the Winter Juvenile Stakes (L), the Winter Guineas (G3) and the Matchem (G3).”
Act Of War was something special from day one. Horses that work like he did in the mornings, leave no uncertainty about their ability. He achieved a career high rating of 117 for the extreme ease with which he won the Cape Guineas (Gr.1). This performance placed him on a par with the best sons of Dynasty in the land. He had such a phenomenal turn of foot that at one stage, Anton and I toyed with the idea of running him in a Group 1 sprint. A multiple Group winner at two and three, he is sure to pass his precocity, class and great temperament onto his offspring. We look forward to racing them in the near future.
Derek Brugman, Racing Manager: Mayfair Speculators

AT THE RACES
Act of War raced a total of 12 times in South Africa for eight wins (of which six were consecutive) including four Group 3s, a Group 2, and a Group 1 – all in under 18 months.
At two:
Won The Langerman (Gr.3) beating Group performers Catkin and Kingvoldt
Won Kenilworth Winter Juvenile (Listed)
Won by 4 lengths in open company
At three:
Won Cape Guineas (Gr.1) defeating champion Harry’s Son and Gr.1 candidates
Kingvoldt, Zambezi River, Balance Sheet, Brutal Force, Parachute Man and Captain Alfredo
Won Selangor Cup (Gr.2) by 2 lengths from Gr.1-racehorses Balance Sheet and ML Jet
Won Cape Classic (Gr.3) beating ML Jet and Heartland
Won Winter Guineas (Gr.3) defeating Group-horse Sail For Gold
2nd Investec Cape Derby (Gr.1)
At four:
Won Matchem Stakes (Gr.3) by 1.75 lengths from Group winner Heartland
To stud 2016:
- Sire of 2021 Horse of the Year War of Athena
- Sire of Gr.1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and Gr.1 Woolavington 2000 winner War of Athena
- Sire of 2021 Triple Tiara Winner War of Athena
- Sire of 2021 Gr.1 Golden Horse Sprint Winner Battle Force
- Seven Black Type wins for the 2020/2021 season
PEDIGREE

OFFSPRING
- Stella Act (Bella Anna) bred by Summerhill Stud
- War of Athena (Qaphela) bred by Summerhill Stud
War Of Athena was crowned Horse of the Year 2021 and Equus Champion 3 YO Filly 2021. She was KZN’s highest performer for the season and the Gr1 winner, taking the Triple Tiara and finishing 4th on the national log of leading horses overall by stakes earned.
She is accompanied by many more standout horses amongst the Act of War log, such as Battle Force, Shield Of Roses, Bold Act, Letsdoit, War Man, Bartholdi, Mckenna Skye, Toms Act and Million Dollar Man, who have all been flying the Act Of War flag this past season!
Act of War was fully booked in his last season with 150 mares booked for covering (2021).
WAR OF ATHENA
BATTLE FORCE
COVERINGS
For more information or booking of coverings, please contact stud2@capitalstud.com