Picture: Vanderbilt has as good a temperament as his famous half-sister Summer Pudding and receives a deserving kiss from owner Suzette Viljoen. (JC Photos).

The Suzette Viljoen-owned Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred Vanderbilt (What A Winter) has been a transformed horse since relocating to Paul Peter’s yard on the Highveld.

He was sent from Gqeberha, so has done the reverse of the usual move for a battling horse.

This makes the feat by the Peter yard all the more remarkable.

This big gelding has developed into an effective front-runner, who dictates and then winds up into his big stride when challenged.

He then slowly draws away from the opposition.

He did it again at Turffontein Inside yesterday in a MR 90 Handicap over 1600m to win by 4,25 lengths. 

He did have the advantage of Rachel Venniker’s 1,5kg claim.

However, he was running off an 89 merit rating having arrived in Gauteng as a maiden who was rated 65. 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE REPLAY OF YESTERDAY’S WIN

Peter said this 600kg odd gelding was so big he had “just needed time.”

He is in fact a half-brother to the Peter-trained Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding.

He was represented only by champions yesterday: the current champion trainer, the current champion apprentice, the former champion owner and the current champion breeder.

Peter did not know yet where they would go with the gelding and mentioned the handicapper’s view being a determining factor.

The handicapper in fact raised him nine points, one more than the guideline which recommends a maximum eight point raise for a handicap win.