Drakenstein Stud’s resident sire and multiple Equus Champion What A Winter had a very smart looking debut winner at Turffontein on Saturday when his Stone Hill Stud bred son Mr Whatson scored over 1000 metres.

Dispatched the 16-10 tote favourite, the Geoff Woodruff trained 3yo showed tremendous heart to dig down deep under jockey Gavin Lerena and win first time out by a head.

Mr Whatson, who was produced by the National Emblem mare Antigua, was a R200 000 buy from the 2017 National Yearling Sale.

Another son of What A Winter, Russet Air, finished second in the Need For Speed Sprint at Kenilworth on the same day.

The four time G1 winning What A Winter, South Africa’s Leading First Crop Sire of 2016-2017, is enjoying another good spell this year, with his recent winners including G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winner Clouds Unfold and impressive two-year-old winners Chilly Winter and Enterthedebutante.

A son of triple South African sire Western Winter, What A Winter has 12 lots on offer at January’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale.