Drakenstein Stud’s four-time G1 winning stallion What A Winter has had a wonderful few weeks, and the son of Western Winter was at it again when supplying two more winners on Saturday.
What A Winter two-year-old Icy Eleanor made the perfect start to her career when winning in open company on Saturday.
The Peter Muscutt trained filly was given a great ride by Tristan Godden to get up and land Saturday’s The Independent On Saturday Then And Now Maiden Plate (F & M) (1000m) by a neck, with another What A Winter daughter Sweet Julia finishing third.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Icy Eleanor is out of the New Approach mare Dame Eleanor.
Saturday’s winner was a R260 000 buy from the 2023 Cape Yearling Sale.
What A Winter struck again on Saturday when his daughter Elegant Ice won the eighth race at Turffontein. Under Raymond Danielson, the Lucky Houdalakis trained three-year-old romped home to claim the Racing Today FM 99 Divided Handicap (1160m) by three and a quarter lengths.
Bred by Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud, Elegant Ice had shown smart form at two when finishing runner-up in the G3 Pretty Polly Stakes and third in the G1 Allan Robertson Championship.
Elegant Ice, who is out of the Danehill Dancer mare Elegantes, was a R400 000 purchase from the 2022 National Yearling Sale.
What A Winter, whose progeny also include recent feature race winners Asiye Phambili, Mid Winter Wind, Winter Cloud and Winter Greeting, also looks to have a very smart two-year-old to his name in the form of Symphony In White.
A regally bred filly, the Drakenstein Stud bred and owned Symphony In White made it two wins from three starts when running out an impressive winner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday. She looks to be a very exciting prospect indeed.