Drakenstein stallion What A Winter, bred by Daytona, made a big impression at Wednesday’s Dispersal Sale of the champion nursery’s stock.
The sale marks the winding down of a highly respected name in SA breeding.
The Sporting Post learns that the Ceres farm has been purchased by the government and will become a fruit producer.
Mike Barnard and the late Robin Hamilton, pictured with What A Winter
Daytona, which was managed by part owner Mike Barnard, was originally started by Dr Frank Freeman and his family, before being taken over by Arthur Pfaff.
When Arthur passed away, Daytona was taken over by his widow Ingrid.
At the passing of Ingrid, Daytona was purchased by Robin Hamilton and Mike Barnard in 1999.
Mr Hamilton passed away in June 2020.
Daytona has been associated with a number of top class racehorses and champions, but one of the most important horses connected with the farm is the great sire Elliodor.
A son of champion sire and broodmare sire Lyphard, Elliodor arrived in 1981 – and Mike Barnard is on record saying that he firmly believes that he was the most influential horse connected with Daytona at the time of writing.
A really well bred horse (his dam was a sister to champion and successful sire Busted), Elliodor battled early on to get much support – and his first crop contained just 14 registered foals.
Elliodor (Lyphard-Ellida)
However, this crop contained his greatest son and South Africa’s first equine millionaire Model Man. Model Man’s wins included five at Gr1 level , including the J&B Met, and he went on to become a successful stallion and broodmare sire.
Elliodor’s first crop contained two other black type winners, including EP Derby winner Eli’s Star, who himself went on to enjoy success at stud – from very limited opportunities, the son of Elliodor left behind the Gr1 winners Eli’s Game and Eli’s Truth.
Success continued for Elliodor, who went on to leave behind 78 stakes winners. Remarkably, this magnificent sire (whose third crop contained just five live foals), was represented by 43 individual Gr1 performers, with his stars including three Gr1 Paddock Stakes winners, as well as Gr1 winners Eldoriza, Forest Trogon, Lord Shirldor and July hero Super Quality.
He was also an outstanding broodmare sire, with his daughters producing the likes of Aslan, Cordocelli, Dog Wood, Kotchka, and Val De Ra- to name but a few.
Other successful sires to have stood at Daytona include Qui Danzig and Sportsworld – both of whose broodmare daughters went on to become extremely successful at stud. The Elliodor/Sportsworld cross became a highly successful one, with the nick producing the likes of stakes winners Gay Regina, Tastevin and Sportscuddle.
The list of outstanding racehorses bred at Daytona is a long one. Two of the farms most famous graduates are Tiza and the star, What A Winter
The latter supplied the top-priced weanling sold at Wednesday’s sale, while the top two mares sold off the Dispersal Sale are both in foal to What A Winter.
The What A Winter weanling colt (Lot 21) out of What Fun made R250 000 when knocked down to John Kramer.
The colt is out of the Ideal World mare What Fun, a full-sister to Kenilworth Cup winner Mercurana and a half-sister to the top-class pair of Marinaresco and Marina.
What A Winter was also covering sire on the well-bred half-sisters Liquid Force (Lot 4) and Konkola (Lot 3) who made R330 000 and R280 000 respectively, when sold to Rathmor Stud and Lammerskraal Stud.
Liquid Force and Konkola are both out of Mkushi Gold – who, like What A Winter, was sired by multiple South African champion sire Western Winter.
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A four-time Gr1 winner, What A Winter has had another fine season in 2020-2021, and, at the time of writing, was second on South Africa’s Leading Sires Of 2YOs and third on the General Sires List
