Drakenstein Stud’s red-hot resident sire What A Winter is enjoying a fantastic season this year, and the son of Western Winter struck yet again when his daughter Nettleton made a winning debut at Turffontein on Saturday.
Well backed to start a 17-10 tote favourite, the Johan Janse Van Vuuren-trained Nettleton made the perfect start to her racing career when claiming Saturday’s 4Racing Welcomes You Maiden Plate over 1000 metres.
Given a great ride by Gavin Lerena, the three-year-old hit the front close home and stayed on nicely to salute by a length while scoring at the first time of asking.
Bred by part-owner Laurence Wernars, Nettleton is out of the Lonhro mare Clifton Road.
Her four-time G1 winning sire What A Winter is currently second on South Africa’s General Sires List and heads the country’s Leading Sires of 2YOs log for the current season.
What A Winter’s flagbearers this season include the graded stakes winners Humdinger, Miss Cool and Winter Cloud, as well as The Ready To Run Stakes winner Seeking The One.
The multiple Equus Champion has 24 lots on offer at the 2023 National Yearling Sale including a half-brother (Lot 107) to dual G1 Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again and a half-brother (Lot 386) to champion Safe Passage.