WHAT A WINTER RECLAIMS CAPE FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP CROWN
Monday, January 28, 2013 
Click above to watch What A Winter winning the Cape Flying Championship (Grade 1)
(Image : Gold Circle - Footage Tellytrack)
BETTING WORLD CAPE FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP (Grade 1)
Kenilworth, Turf, 1000m
26 January 2013
Mike Moon
Tab NewsWhat A Winter melted away any thoughts that he might not be South Africa’s best sprinter with a commanding performance in the Grade 1 R600,000 Betting World Cape Flying Championship over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The minimum dash was thought in some quarters to be a tad too short for the five-year-old entire these days but, with favourable weight-for age conditions, a brisk headwind and a smart pace, he showed that he is the supreme speedster.
The only horse in Saturday’s contest that looked remotely in the class of What A Winter was three-year-old filly Via Africa from Duncan Howells’ Durban yard. The daughter of Var took the lead shortly after the start and for a while looked like she might burgle it, but eventually succumbed by the best part of a length.
Third-placed Cap Alright, always a game performer, never looked threatening and was several lengths back at the line. The impressive-looking Chave De Oura finished fourth and might need a lot more ground at this stage of his career.
What A Winter jumped on terms and matched strides with some of his eager young rivals in the first half of the race. However, once jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe got to work on him inside the final 400m there was no doubting the eventual outcome.
Before the race, What A Winter’s trainer Mike Bass said that his colt was in the peak of condition, having come out of the 1600m L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate - false start, challenging trip and all - in very good nick.
And he justified his conditioner’s bullishness with a consummate performance.
With many of the country’s other top sprinters of recent years retired or exported - such as Val De Ra and Shea Shea - What A Winter would seem to have a clutch of upcoming weight-for-age sprinting titles at his mercy and is likely to be aimed at big prizes in the KwaZulu-Natal winter season.
The young filly Via Africa is clearly a talent of note and will win some big races.
What A Winter, a five-year-old son of Western Winter out of the Ahonoora mare Waseela, was bred by Daytona Stud. He is owned by Mike Bass, Bryn Ressell, Marsh Shirtliff and GN Shirtliff.
BETTING WORLD CAPE FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP (Grade 1)
Final Result
| # | LBH | Horse | Kg | MR | Dr | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0.00 | WHAT A WINTER | 60.0 | 120 | 9 | B Fayd’Herbe | Mike Bass |
| 2 | 0.75 | VIA AFRICA | 54.0 | 100 | 4 | A Forbes | Duncan Howells |
| 3 | 5.00 | CAP ALRIGHT | 60.0 | 110 | 6 | K Teetan | Justin Snaith |
| 4 | 6.00 | CHAVE DE OURA | 56.5 | 103 | 7 | S Cormack | Dennis Drier |
| 5 | 7.25 | TORRA BAY (AUS) | 57.5 | 96 | 1 | M Byleveld | Dennis Drier |
| 6 | 7.30 | CAPE ROYAL | 56.5 | 106 | 5 | K Neisius | Dean Kannemeyer |
| 7 | 8.55 | MAGICO | 60.0 | 107 | 3 | G Schlechter | Eric Sands |
| 8 | 9.80 | TETELESTAI | 60.0 | 106 | 8 | * K der Melo | Garth Puller |
| 9 | 10.30 | JINZO | 60.0 | 106 | 2 | C Puller | Garth Puller |
Extract from Tab News
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