The progeny of Drakenstein Stud’s leading young sire What A Winter continue to catch the eye around the country, and the former triple Equus Award winner was at it again on Saturday.

A four time G1 winner, and South Africa’s Champion First Crop Sire of 2016-2017,  What A Winter had two impressive winners on Saturday, with the stallion’s progeny scoring in two different provinces.

Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson is no stranger to What A Winter or his progeny and she sent out the sire’s What A Winner to win at Durbanville on Saturday. Bred by Favour Stud, What A Winner made it win number three, when storming home to score a three parts of a length win in an MR 88 handicap over 1000m (beating Sophomore Sprint third Top Of The Class into second).
The four-year-old has now  a win and a second place from just three outings at Durbanville to his credit.

What A Winter’s G1 son Warrior’s Rest, who holds entries in both the G1 G-Bets Gauteng Summer Cup and G2 Peermont Emperors Palace Mile, showed tremendous courage in landing an assessment plate over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.
Making much of the running, Warrior’s Rest dug down deep under Lyle Hewitson to post a defeat of D’Arrivee by a neck.  Trained by Sean Tarry, the gelding (from his sire’s first crop) rated one of the better 2yos of his generation when his efforts included a third, to subsequent G1 Investec Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open, in the 2017 G1 Premiers Champion Stakes.

Bred by Lammerskraal Stud, Warrior’s Rest was the joint top lot sold at the 2016 CTS Ready To Run Sale where he fetched R900 000.

A son of triple champion sire Western Winter, What A Winter made a superb start to his stud career, with his first crop producing the likes of graded stakes winners Dutch Philip and Magical Wonderland, who, between them, have earned in excess of R5 000 000.

What A Winter has two runners, G3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery winner Clouds Unfold and Celestial Storm, in Saturday’s G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, while sons Sacred Arrow and Fabian represent the champion in the same day’s G3 Cape Classic.