WHAT A WINTER MARE WINS RIDGEMONT GARDEN PROVINCE STAKES

7 July 2024

Drakenstein Stud’s four-time G1 winning stallion What A Winter has had another good season in 2023-2024, and the multiple Equus Champion had another big payday this season when his daughter Humdinger won the G1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes (1600m) at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

In the process, Humdinger joins Clouds Unfold, Isivunguvungu, Russet Air and Warrior’s Rest as G1 winners for her sire.

Runner up in the G2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes last time out, the Mike de Kock-trained five-year-old picked up the eighth win of her career when scoring a gutsy win in Saturday’s G1 feature.

Under a superb ride from Piere Strydom, Humdinger appeared beaten close home, but the What A Winter mare rallied gamely and fought back to win by a short neck.

Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, Humdinger has now won a trio of graded races, with the mare victorious in the 2023 G2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes and 2022 G2 Topbet Joburg Spring F and M Challenge.

Humdinger is out of the Fort Wood mare Himalayan Hill.

Her sire What A Winter, South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YOs in 2019-2020 and Leading First Season Sire of 2016-2017, is also responsible for this season’s graded stakes winners Asiye Phambili, Midwinter Wind and Winter Cloud.

Original article written by Cape Breeders Club