Without Reg led the charge for War Chant (USA) in the New Year thanks to a front-running victory in the Mandurah Cup (1400m) at Pinjarra and the former Yarradale Stud sire reinforced that result when War Matters and Mangifera scored fighting wins at Bunbury last week.

War Matters took over at the top of the straight in the MGIB Hcp (2219m) last Wednesday and kept lifting to deny late closer Lead By Example (Ducimus).  A homebred for trainer Darren McAuliffe and his Impressive Racing partner Kevin Berry, he won at Ascot last season only to be hindered by ongoing hoof issues.

“It's taken 18 months but he's pain-free and can go on with it now.” McAuliffe said. "And this win will help build his confidence."

War Matters (5g War Chant - Impressing Matters by Viscount) is a younger full-brother to War Room who was sold to race in Hong Kong in 2018 after winning the LR Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (1400m) at Ascot.

Their dam Impressing Matters won a LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) and has had foaled six winners from six to the races.  Her latest is a colt by Geisel Park sire Aysar (Deep Field).

Mangifera scored her second win in a row with a narrow victory over The Scholar (Exceedance) at Bunbury on Sunday.  They made all the running and then went head-to-head down the centre of the track before the War Chant (USA) mare dived right on the line.

A last-start winner at Pinjarra, she is a homebred for Forest View Farm’s Ben and Jo Duncan as is last-start Ascot winner Belta Of A Song (Your Song).  “That was a tough win in the last at Bunbury and she’s looking for more distance,” Forest View posted on Facebook.  “Thanks to Rob Gulberti and his team for another winner!”

“We love training this little sweetie,” Gulberti replied.  “She’s a true professional.

Mangifera (4m War Chant - Kiss The Breeze by Star Witness) is from a Forest View mare who won the 2017 Initial Plate (1000m) at Belmont from future Group 1 galloper Platoon (Playing God).

Kiss The Breeze’s 3yo Mr Kissinger (Trapeze Artist) was last seen winning a Belmont maiden in September for Jo Duncan and Ellie Crispe and her 2yo is an unraced filly with Dan Morton named Pucker Up (Blue Point).

Yarradale has 17 yearlings entered for the Perth Magic Millions next month with Playing God (7 lots) and Gingerbread Man (4 lots) leading the consignment. War Chant (Danzig) has five yearlings in his final-crop and the only one catalogued for the Magic Millions is the colt from Missing Pro (Proart) catalogued as Lot 231 by Balmoral Park.

War Matters (red cap) wins at Bunbury / Photo: Western Racepix