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The Cape sprinter What A Winter on Saturday returns to Kenilworth, his favourite course, ready and able to defend his 2012 victory in the R600,000, Betting World Cape Flying Championship (1000m).
Photo by Liesl King
The Mike Bass trained Western Winter four-year-old has the task of not only defending his crown, but against two seasoned and proven South African sprinters, J J The Jet Plane and Val De Ra.
Saturday's race is no place to hide for these three outstanding gallopers with each having attributes to make their case for winning this furious dash. JJ The Jet Plane has done it all before at Grade 1 level both at home and on the international stage, while Val De Ra had yet to be beaten over 1000m.
Bass knows this, and while he is realistic about What A Winter's chances at facing these two talented individuals, he has got his champion sprinter back to his very best.
The legendary trainer has worked to overcome leg and back problems that hampered What A Winter last season and saw him beaten by Val De Ra in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein last April. Two small bone chips were removed from his fetlocks and What A Winter was stretching out again.
Photo by Liesl King
What A Winter, as docile off the track as he is a fierce competitor on it, has tuned up for his clash on Saturday with two very smart wins at his home track.
With regular jockey Karl Neisius aboard, What A Winter with 60kg dealt with the Pinnacles Stakes over 1100m with summary ease on November 27th, with 2.25 lengths in hand at the line. Bass sent him back to Kenilworth on December 17th and this time it was another facile win by a similar margin, but at Grade 2 level this time, in the Diadem Stakes over 1200m, a distance he excels at. Again What A Winter carried 60kg.
Bass knew he had the strapping entire back to his best. However, on Saturday he drops back to 1000m from his favoured 1200m and Val De Ra carries 57.5kg to his 60kg.
Saturday's forecast though holds a vital key to what might turn this race in What A Winter's favour. The 26°C forecast is totally in keeping with the Sizzling Summer Season racing, but the predicted 31km/h wind will be blowing directly into the face of the field.
Photo by Liesl King
If Val De Ra either leads or settles near the lead she will be facing the breeze, and 1000m becomes 1200m as the strength of the wind makes progress difficult. What A Winter will have no problem at all making the 1200m and the well built sprinter will be in his element.
Bass agrees, commenting that a head wind will suit What A Winter and make up for the extra 200m that the colt prefers.
The key to What A Winter on Saturday might well be Neisius ensuring that they leave the barriers very smartly and with the rest the field. The strong wind will help, but he cannot give his rivals a metre of advantage to ensure he can use his massive sprinting ability at the finish line.