What! The flying Bass champion What A Winter streaks clear of Via Africa
South African champion sprinter What A Winter set the record straight with a superb win in Saturday’s R600 000 Gr1 Betting World Cape Flying Championship at Kenilworth. The multiple Equus award winner threw courtesy and good manners to the wind when he stormed past the 3yo flying Var filly Via Africa, to win as he liked.
What A Winter drifted in the betting for the 1000m dash from an odds- on call to even money, as the cynics made a meal of his poor showing in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate a fortnight ago.
The threat of the 3yo challenge of Dean Kannemeyer’s Cape Royal, Duncan Howell’s Via Africa and Dennis Drier’s Chave De Oura was also a consideration. But What A Winter’s loyal supporters got the lot and more at a generous 16-10 on the tote and with the bookmakers, with minimal sweat.
The Cape doctor had eased off somewhat on a beautiful summer afternoon as regular pilot Bernard Fayd’herbe warmed his mount up behind the stalls and trotted in dizzying never ending circles.
What A Team! Marsh Shirtliff, Bernie Fayd’herbe, Mike Bass and Bryn Ressell
The well-behaved bunch jumped on terms with Dennis Drier’s Torra Bay quickly into stride into the teeth of the perennial summer breeze from her rails position as Via Africa, Cap Alright and Chave De Oura paced it with her.
At that stage Cape Royal was covered up four lengths off, pacing it with What A Winter, Jinzo and Magico, while Tetelestai was at the rear.
The volume was turned on full blast at the 400m marker as Via Africa, Torra Bay and Cap Alright went head to head in a line with What A Winter looming dangerously.
Inside the final 300m Via Africa was given her head by Alec Forbes and she dashed into a lead as What A Winter ranged menacingly down her inside.
In a matter of strides the big fellow was out front and he strode away to win by 0.75 lengths in a time of 58,65 secs.
No Shame! Duncan Howells and Via Africa can be proud of a great second placed finish
The 3yo filly Via Africa stayed on bravely and was not disgraced in older male dominated Gr1 company. She will give her connections plenty of rewarding fun yet and is a fast filly that we will hear plenty about in time to come.
The Snaith’s ATM Cap Alright gallantly plodded on into third, marginally in front of Chave De Oura, who found things a trifle hot.
What A Winter recorded his third Gr1 win here, having won the 2011 Cape Flying Championship and the 2012 Mercury Sprint in KZN.
He avenged his defeat by that other superb daughter of Var, Val De Ra, in last year’s Cape Flying Championship.
The winner is trained by the master Mike Bass and is owned in partnership by him and Bryn Ressell, and father-and-son Marsh and Guy Shirtliff, in whose royal blue and shocking pink silks he runs.
He was bred by Daytona Stud and is by Western Winter out of the Irish-bred miler Waseela.
With a proud track record of 12 wins and 5 places from his 22 starts for earnings of R 2 49 213, What A Winter is sure to be a big hit when he retires to the paddocks of the world famous Drakenstein Stud in Franschoek.
He will be syndicated by Freemanstallions.
And seeing that he has the best sprinter in the country in his yard, we imagine that his veteran trainer won’t be experimenting with any more muddling Gr1 miles in the future.
(Photographs courtesy of Hamish Niven Photography)
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Result:
Cape Flying Championship (SAf-G1) (1/26)
Kenilworth, South Africa, January 26, R600.000, 1000m, turf, good, 58.65.
WHAT A WINTER (SAF), 60.0, b h 5, Western Winter (USA) – Waseela (IRE) by
Ahonoora (IRE). Owner MW Bass, B Ressell, GN & NM Shirtliff; breeder Daytona
Stud; trainer MW Bass; jockey B Fayd’herbe (R375.000)
Via Africa (SAF), 54.0, b f 3, Var (USA) – Bump ‘n Grind (SAF) by Qui Danzig
(USA)
Cap Alright (SAF), 60.0, b g 5, Captain Al (SAF) – Second Chance (SAF) by
Centenary (USA)
Margins: ¾, 4¼, 1
