Yarradale Stud-bred mare Mistress Of War has been in career-best form for trainer Karen Kersley since resuming from a spring spell with two placings and two wins culminating with a gutsy victory in the Morley Growers Market Hcp (1800m) at Ascot on Wednesday.

Ridden like the best horse in the race by Laqdar Ramoly, she sat outside Azabelle (Lucky Street) and wasn’t for beating after rolling to a winning break in the straight.  “She’s an honest mare and has never an a bad race for me,” Kersley confirmed.  “She can get over more ground and hopefully step up for a Saturday race.”  Ramoly was just as positive after weighing in.  “She tries hard every time, even at trackwork.  She responded to pressure to win at Pinjarra last start and can aim for better races next prep.”

Mistress Of War is a daughter of Yarradale’s former sire War Chant (USA) from Damsel In Distress (Frost Giant).  The family goes back five generations to Heytesbury Stud’s Canadian import Consular Belle (Pro Consul) who foaled Tell Me Straight (Is It True) to win the LR Ngawyni Quality and Belgravia Stakes in 1995.

A son of breed-shaping sire of sires Danzig, War Chant was 27 when he passed away at Yarradale in April 2024 and his single-figure final crop includes a yearling filly from Saint Eadie (Vital Equine) that’s been retained by Yarradale owner Lyn Sayers.

War Chant won the G1 2000 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs and his legacy lives on at Yarradale with five of its draft to the Perth Magic Millions from War Chant mares.  “We’re excited and proud to offer a quality draft and our yearlings match their pedigrees on type,” Yarradale manager Davy Hanratty said when previewing the standouts this week.  “We’re going to the Swan Valley full of confidence and can’t wait to show them to prospective buyers.”

Lot 1    Filly   Playing God -  Habenera (War Chant)
“She’s an absolute beast and is the full package.  Plenty of scope, presence, well balanced and a great mover.

33    Filly   Playing God - Mizlecki (Lope de Vega)
Lovely, dark-coloured filly.  A typical Playing God and probably the best foal the mare has thrown.  Very athletic with a brain and has been well-received at on-farm inspections.

40    Colt   Ghaiyyath - Noble Born (Blackfriars)
Good sort who looks a runner.  Uncomplicated colt and his sire Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) is doing a fantastic job this season as the leading second-crop stallion for Stakes-winners (4) in Australia.

62    Filly   The Autumn Sun - Rebel Heart (More Than Ready)
Neat first foal with a forward demeanour by sire-sensation The Autumn Sun from a city-winning half-sister to Black Heart Bart, Rebel King and Rebelson.

109  Colt   Playing God - War of Whispers (War Chant)
Good physical with great depth of girth and very strong behind the saddle.  Extremely attractive colt who fills the eye and a half-brother to Wubin Gold (6 wins earning $325k to date).

121  Filly   Gingerbread Man - Amalfi Lass (War Chant)
Ball of muscle and a half-sister to exciting 3yo Vatican Storm who is on a hat-trick for trainer Stefan Vahala.  Looks a real get up and run type and has inherited that straightforward Gingerbread Man attitude.

158  Filly   Playing God - Dainty Tess (War Chant)
A rare pearl by Champion sire from a millionaire mare.  We rate her right up there with the best in the Sale.  All quality and superstar good looks with a deep girth and very strong hindquarter.

180   Filly   Bivouac - Full Sun (Cacique)
Very athletic filly and she looks a racy type with a great pedigree.  Dam is a British-bred half-sister to Canadian Group 1 winner Redwood (High Chaparral). Bivouac leads the second-season tables for winners and wins (24 & 33) inc SW Beiwacht (G1 Golden Rose), Big Sky (G3 Chairman's Stakes) and Perth pocket-rocket Luana Miss (LR Placid Ark Stakes).

207   Colt   Gingerbread Man - Lady Valorem (Ad Valorem)
Full-brother to black-type sprinter Red Fifty Three and a carbon-copy of him on type and temperament.  Handsome colt who wants to please with a lovely swinging walk.

249   Colt   Lightsaber - Platinum Power (Commands)
Good-looking son of first-season Zoustar sire Lightsaber and is half-brother to three city winners including black-type sprinter Platinum Shot who won again on the Australia Day long weekend.  Has a swagger with a bit of presence.  Lots of bone and looks a readymade racehorse.

276   Colt   Playing God - Single Spice (Not A Single Doubt)
By WA Champion sire from a mare who can do nothing wrong.  He has a massive stride and is a strong as an ox while presenting as a very well-balanced colt.  Single Spice won a LR Supremacy Stakes and the best of her 8 winners to date has been G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) winner Ima Single Man (Gingerbread Man).  Her latest is this season’s Belmont-winning 3yo filly Spicy Thang (Toronado).

Yarradale's consignment will be housed in Barns D & E at the Swan Valley Salegrounds.

Mistress Of War (Photo / Western Racepix)