The late Western Winter really made his presence felt at Turffontein on Saturday, with the former multiple champion sire impressing yet again as both a sire of sires and broodmare sire.
Not only did Western Winter son Red Ray supply Saturday’s Gr3 Sycamore Sprint winner Alula’s Star, the stallion’s daughter Arabian Winter is dam of Listed Jacaranda Handicap queen Bureau Des Legende (Legislate). Western Winter is also broodmare sire of Jacaranda Handicap fourth place finisher Sister Light (Visionaire), while his son What A Winter is the sire of Sycamore Sprint third Cool Fact.
Western Winter – one of the modern greats in SA breeding
What A Winter also made his mark on Saturday with his three-year-old daughter Nettleton catching the eye when making a winning debut at Turffontein. In winning the first race on Saturday, Nettleton bested her paternal half-brother Iron Sky to win by a length. The Drakenstein Stud resident went on to enjoy a double at Turffontein with What A Winter gelding Siberian Steel landing the spoils in the ninth and final race on the day.
What A Winter is enjoying a tremendous season this year, with the former sprint champion currently second on the General Sires List. Also currently South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YO’s by stakes earned for 2022-2023, What A Winter has been responsible for graded stakes winners Humdinger, Miss Cool and Winter Cloud this season.
Red Ray and What A Winter are not the only sons of Western Winter to enjoy success of late, with the Western Winter sired champion Capetown Noir responsible for recent Gr2 World Sports Betting Hawaii Stakes winner Under Your Spell, and the unbeaten Cherry Ano.
Capetown Noir – a son of Western Winter
The latter has won all three of his starts and looks a progressive sort in the making.
Yet another son of Western Winter, Met runner up, Last Winter is set to be represented by his first yearlings in 2023.
Western Winter, South Africa’s Leading Broodmare Sire in 2017-2018 , is currently third on the Broodmare Sires list, with runners having already banked more than R9.9 million this season. Western Winter daughters have produced five stakes winners in 2022-2023 thus far, including Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas/Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes heroine Make It Snappy (Dynasty).
Inbreeding to Western Winter has also produced good results of late, with this pattern responsible for, among others, recent Listed Hollywoodbets Durbanville Cup hero Thefutureisbright (Futura), as well as the graded stakes winners Miss Cool (What A Winter) and Snow Report (What A Winter).
Bulleting Home (Western Winter), who won the 2017 Gr3 Kings Cup, is not inbred to Western Winter but he is closely inbred to the latter’s dam Chilly Hostess.
