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What A Winter, South Africa's highest-rated thoroughbred, reaffirmed his status with his second win in the G 1 Cape Flying Championship at Kenilworth on Saturday.

What A Winter, winner of the G1 sprint in 2011 and runner-up last year, went to the post as favourite to enhance his reputation as the leading domestic sprinter.

What A Winter turned his form around from his last start when he beat just two home in the G1 Queen's Plate over a mile on January 12.

Ridden by Bernard Fayd'Herbe, he was third passing the 400m he was driven out late to deny the prominently ridden Via Africa in determined fashion by three quarters of a length.

It was immediately announced by connections that the five-year-old wil be retired to stand at Drakenstein Stud for the 2013 season after two more starts.

Trainer Mike Bass indicated What A Winter would tackle the G1 Mercury Sprint at Clairwood and the G1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein.

"If he wants to run, I will be happy have a go," Bass said.

"Those are the only two possible races for him because I am not going to run him in a handicap. He would have to give away ten kilos.

"I am quite happy to be criticised for running him in the Queen's Plate and I deserve to be because it didn't come off. It proved to be a disastrous exercise but it didn't do any harm.

"I've had a few good sprinters but none as good as this one."

Fayd'Herbe said: "He dug down deep to pass Via Africa but once he got past her he started to loaf under me.

"He is very good but I don't think we have seen the best of him on the racecourse. When I ride him in work he is like a machine."