Winter is a grey filly bred in Ireland by the Laddies Poker Two Syndicate, a horse breeding company associated with the Coolmore Stud.

His other progeny include Cape Blanco, Frankel, Golden Lilac, Nathaniel, New Approach, Rip Van Winkle, Found, Minding and Ruler of the World.

[2] Winter's dam Laddies Poker Two, from whom she inherited her grey colour, was a lightly raced sprinter best known for winning the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot as a five-year-old in 2010.

After a break of more than two months she returned for a maiden over one mile at Gowran Park in July, and started favourite but ran disappointingly, finishing third to Butterflies.

After chasing the leaders in the early stages she stayed on strongly to finish second, beaten a head by her stablemate Hydrangea with Intricately (winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes) in fourth and the favourite Promise To Be True (second in the Prix Marcel Boussac) in sixth place.

After meeting some interference in the early stages Wayne Lordan settled the filly in mid division before producing Winter with a strong run down the center of the track to take the lead two furlongs out.

"[11] At Royal Ascot on 23 June Winter attempted to become only the second filly (after Attraction) to follow up wins in the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas with a success in the Coronation Stakes.

[12] On 3 August at Goodwood Racecourse Winter was moved up in distance and matched against older fillies and mares in the ten-furlong Nassau Stakes, a race for which she started 10/11 favourite.

Hydrangea was again among her rivals while the other four runners were Queen's Trust (Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf), Sobetsu (Prix Saint-Alary), So Mi Dar (Musidora Stakes) and Blond Me (Topkapi Trophy).