Drakenstein Stud’s exciting resident sire, and South Africa’s current Leading First Crop Sire, What A Winter, whose first crop son Fort Winter won the recent Listed East Cape Nursery, enjoyed yet more success this past weekend, when the son of Western Winter was represented by two very impressive first crop winners.
His first 2yo winner came in the form of the Lammerskraal Stud bred Warrior’s Rest, who simply demolished his rivals to win by 3.25 lengths over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday –after making all the running. Trained by Sean Tarry, the blue blooded Warrior’s Rest had contested the Kuda Sprint at his previous outing and duly obliged in Saturday’s contest at the prohibitive odds of 6-10.
Warrior’s Rest, a ¾ brother to G2 winner Bichette, was a R900 000 buy from last year’s CTS Ready To Run Sale Presented by Lanzerac.
Just minutes after Warrior’s Rest had romped home to victory, another son of What A Winter impressed in victory, with the Rex Stud bred Dutch Philip (the first winner for his sire) made it two wins from just three outings when successful over 1000m. Third in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes at his previous outing, Dutch Philip could be aimed at the Listed Somerset 1200 next time out.
Another first crop runner by What A Winter, the Normandy Stud bred Forecourt, made a pleasingly debut at Scottsville when a close up third over 1000m in open company and she should go very close next time out.
South Africa’s Leading First Crop Sire by winners and stake money earned, triple Equus Champion What A Winter has four lots on Friday’s Emperors Palace Select Yearling Sale –including a half-brother to G3 2yo Lastbutnotleast (Lot 3), a half-brother to G3 Man O’War Sprint winner Exquisite Touch (Lot 143) and a half-sister to G1 performed Elevated (Lot 145).
The four time G1 winner also has 15 yearlings on next month’s National Yearling Sale, including a ¾ brother to the G1 winners Nania and Red Ray (Lot 68), a colt from the family of graded winning sprinters Rodoille and Blue Tiger (Lot 283), a half-brother to Fillies Guineas winner Maybe Yes (Lot 388) and a colt from the family of G1 winners Byword, Continent, Proviso, Zambezi Sun and champion Wandesta (Lot 464).