Mauritzfontein’s exciting young sire Danon Platina came up with his fourth first crop winner when his two-year-old daughter Betula won the first race at the Vaal on Thursday.
Fifth on her only previous appearance, the Stuart Pettigrew trained filly built on that first up effort with a courageous performance on Thursday.
Under Diego De Gouveia, Betula raced three lengths off the leaders early on in Thursday’s 4Racing Welcomes You Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) (1450m).
When asked the question, Betula struck the front, before digging down deep to best runner up Dakota Cat by a long neck.
Still very green in running, Betula had been working well before the race, and she duly lived up to connections’ predictions.
Out of the Fastnet Rock mare Boxwood Bower, Betula is bred on a similar cross to the one which produced the Deep Impact sired G1 SAJC Australasian Oaks winner Glint Of Hope.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Betula was a R160 000 buy from the 2022 National Yearling Sale.
Her sire had made news earlier in the week when Danon Platina filly Platina Princess became the first two-year-old this season to win in open company.
Danon Platina shares his legendary sire Deep Impact with brilliant colt Auguste Rodin, who currently heads the betting for this year’s G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas and G1 Cazoo Derby.
Out of a mare by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and top-class sire Unbridled’s Song, Danon Platina has 22 lots on offer at this month’s National Yearling Sale.