Drakenstein Stud’s consistently successful sire What A Winter has had a wonderful season in 2021-2022 and the four G1 winner enjoyed more success at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday when What A Winter supplied two more winners -including a very impressive debut winner in the form of Winter Baron.
The latter, a two-year-old gelding trained by Garth Puller, made a stunning start to his racing career when he ran out a brilliant winner of Scottsville’s first race on Wednesday, the tabgold -The Intelligent Bet! Juvenile Plate (1100m).
Under Athandiwe Mgudlwa, Winter Baron hit the front close home, full of running, and powered away to score by three and a half length.
Out of the Count Dubois mare Countess Of Rhynie, Winter Baron was bred by Alec Foster.
The gelding, yet another exciting prospect for What A Winter, was a R120 000 buy from the 2021 Cape Yearling Sale.
What A Winter’s second success on Wednesday came when his two-year-old daughter Petit Verdot, also trained by Garth Puller, stormed home to land the second race, the Open A tabgold Account -031 314 1874 Maiden Plate (F&M) (1200m) going away. Under Serino Moodley, the What A Winter daughter ran out a more than half length winner, with Petit Verdot making just her second start on Tuesday.
Bred by Clifton Stud, Petit Verdot is out of the Al Mufti mare Valdovino and she is thus bred on the same cross as What A Winter’s G2 winning daughter Magical Wonderland.
What A Winter has now been responsible for 17 two-year-old winners this season.
South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YOs in 2020-2021, What A Winter is currently fifth on the General Sires List and second on the Leading Sires of 2YOs for 2021-2022.