Drakenstein Stud’s international presence continues to flourish, with their homebred filly Distant Winter making a winning Stateside debut on Thursday at Delaware Park. Racing in the silks of Cayton Park Stud, Drakenstein’s overseas operation, the talented daughter of What A Winter returned from a lengthy break to land a confident victory over a mile and seventy yards in an Allowance race.
Now trained by renowned U.S. conditioner Graham Motion, Distant Winter was partnered by jockey Jorge Ruiz and showed maturity beyond her 16-month layoff to win stylishly on her first American outing.
Previously based with Candice Bass-Robinson in South Africa, Distant Winter was a high-class filly in SA, placing in the Gr1 Douglas Whyte Thekweni Stakes and capturing the Gr3 Winter Nursery in 2023. She now boasts three career wins from limited starts, marking a promising start to her new chapter abroad.
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the four-year-old is a daughter of Equus Champion What A Winter out of the dual-winning Trippi mare Fromafar. Her American win highlights the growing influence of South African-bred racehorses internationally, and the strength of Drakenstein’s breeding programme across both hemispheres. What A Winter has produced three international winners in the past two seasons; Isivunguvungu in the US, Mid Winter Wind in Hong Kong and Distant Winter once more in America.
