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After the excitement of the Vodacom Durban July at Greyville last Saturday racing moved across Durban to Clairwood this week where the top sprinters lined up in the R600 000, WFA Group 1 The Mercury Sprint over 1200m on Saturday.

As with the July it was a clash of the three South African provinces' best sprinters, with raiders Magico and Delago Deluxe(AUS) from Johannesburg and What A Winter, Rushing Wind and Copper Parade from the Western Cape, while Mike's Choice and Chocolicious made up the locally based, KwaZulu-Natal team.

The day, however, belonged to the Mike Bass team as What A Winter and Bernard Fayd'Herbe, carrying 60kgs, powered clear under a hands and heels ride to win by 2.75L.

What A Winter had started the year with a good second to the flying mare Val De Ra in the Group 1 WFA Cape Flying Championship over 1000m at Kenilworth in January, followed by a third in the Group 1 WFA Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein in April.

However, a disappointing 13th in the Group 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint over 1200m at Scottsville on May 26th sent the Bass team back to the drawing board.

Fayd'Herbe was quick to pay tribute to the hard work that got the stable's star colt back on track:

“Mr Bass has worked so hard, he got the horse right again and it showed that when he is at his best, he is a special horse,” he said.

The mare, Chocolicious, with a light-weight of 57.5kg on her back, took the early lead up the Clairwood straight with What A Winter content to sit behind the leading pack, while his main danger Delago Deluxe and Anton Marcus, raced up the middle of the track.

At the 400m mark, Chocolicious cried enough, forcing Fayd'Herbe to ask the question early. What A Winter responded and joined the leaders, before Fayd'Herbe steered him towards the standside rail and into the lead at the 200m mark.

From there it was game over as What A Winter stretched his lead to over two lengths despite a gallant effort from Delago Deluxe further out on the track. Snowdon and Anthony Delpech ran into third, another 2.75 lengths back. The winning time was 1.07.76.

Fayd'Herbe explained his early move: “I would have liked to have been able to sit on him a bit longer, but I did not want them to get away from me. So I asked him quite early and once I got to them, I was suddenly in a situation where I had to ask him to go again as they (Chocolicious) were coming back at me quickly.”

Mike Bass, who is a part owner of What A Winter, copied Aidan O'Brien by offering a public apology regarding the horse's previous form.

“I was in England two weeks ago and saw So You Think(NZ) win and Aidan O' Brien apologise to the public for getting him beat a few times. I probably have to apologise for the last two runs, but he is back to his best now. That is the horse we expected, the horse we all knew. We expected him to win today,” he said.

What A Winter is a four-year-old entire by Western Winter out of the Irish mare Waseela (Ahonoora). Saturday's win was his second Group 1 win after earlier winning the 2011 Cape Flying Championship and overall it was win number nine from 17 starts.

With an additional four placings, including three at Group 1 level, What A Winter has taken his earnings to R1, 846, 870 for owners Bass, Bryn Ressell, G N Shirtliff and N M Shirtliff.