With 160 guests gathered under magnificent blue skies at Rathmor Stud, Andrew Bon introduced the most exciting stallion prospect to come to South Africa, in Lynton Ryan's opinion - since the arrival of Fort Wood.
The magnficent son of Unbridled's Song and the only one of his sire on the African continent, Noble Tune entered the parade ring attentively with ears pricked, a breathtaking sight of a stallion in peak condition who is letting down into an absolute picture.
At just fours years of age, Noble Tune is a sight to behold and beautifully topped - his conformation resembling his royal pedigree with a head that strongly resembles that of Storm Cat; his big cat-like walk and beautifully conformed hindquarters taking after that of his famous grey Champion sire and broodmare sire, Unbridled's Song.
The Gr2 American Turf Stakes and Gr3 Pilgrim Stakes winner Noble Tune took the crowds in his long stride, circling to Celine Dion's 'Incredible'. His first foals are due in August and Rathmor Stud have spared no expense in purchasing the best mares from around the country and internationally to support his book this year, with breeders country wide having booked mares for the next season beginning in September.
Noble Tune has been in the news constantly since his arrival in South Africa last year; his Gr1 Met Mile winning half-brother Honor Code has made an incredible come back since being injured after being the favourite for the Kentucky Derby in 2014. He is hailed as one of two of the top stallion prospects in America and his half-sisters - a weanling sold for $3 million and the other, Lady Serena, broke her maiden by seven lengths.
Bloodstock and pedigree specialist 'praise singer' Lynton Ryan made the trip back to Rathmor Stud for the Noble Tune stallion day once more this year, clearly excited about the prospects of Noble Tune he provided an insightful speech into how fortunate we are to have a stallion of this calibre in South Africa and KZN.
Lynton begins: "Honor Code is now the most valuable horse in America, never mind American Pharoah [who shares the same pedigree cross as Noble Tune]. Honor Code is unbuyable, this family is now 'the untouchables.' The reason I say that, is that Noble Tune's half-sister went throught the ring seven months ago for $3-million dollars and no matter what a horses pedigree is, the market dictates the true value.
"How this horse [Noble Tune] got here, I dont know, but we got him, lets love him and enjoy him!"
"The farm that bought the filly purchased Serena's Song, her fourth dam, for $60 000. This is the most powerful Thoroughbred family in America. We will know in the first week of November who is the best horse in the USA between Honor Code and American Pharoah, as they are both listed to run in the Breeders Cup Classic.
"The person who bought Honor Code also bought American Pharoah, if Honor Code does beat him he might just become the most valuable horse in the world, and we have his half-brother right here.
Lynton goes on to say: "Noble Tune is the product of three song birds; Unbridled's Song, Glorious Song and Serena's Song. Those two fillies when they raced were the best of their generation and when they got to stud, they carried on. I cant tell you how lucky we are to have this greatness surrounding Noble Tune.
"Unbridled's Song's sons and daughters are in huge demand."
"Galileo is great because the excellence is right there; we dont have to hunt for it on the pedigre page and its the same with Noble Tune, you dont have to go down generations to find it. It is a fast developing family, that goes back three generations. The first foal for Stakes winning Serena's Cat was Noble Tune and he was the top of his generation.
"If Noble Tune wasnt a first foal, we wouldnt be gathered here today. The second foal is Honor Code who is unbuyable, he has been purchased by Lane's End farm to replace his sire A.P. Indy who they stood and pensioned there. The next foal won two races in a row, and the next foal sold for $3-million.
"Her next foal is by War Front and Serena's Tune could quite possibly be voted Broodmare Of The Year, a definite contender. The man who purchased Honor Code described him as a genetic masterpiece, and the same can be said for that of Noble Tune.
Lynton goes on to say that Noble Tune is a non-compromised stallion, as was Silvano and Fort Wood when they came to this country.
"In his asthetic appeal, his pedigree and his race record. Alistair Brown sourced two incredible champions that were brought to this country, and if their sons were diamonds, their daughters were gold. Both Fort Wood and Al Mufti have left legacies, and Alistair Brown sourced Noble Tune, that is his expertise.
At the end of Noble Tune's film made by Andrew Bon, his American jockey Javier Castellano said Noble Tune is great. He is the number one jockey in America at this moment, in three years he has twice been the Eclipse award winning jockey of America.
"He hasnt walked amongst giants, he has ridden them, amongst them Bernardini. He also rides Honor Code. You have to take congnisance of a person who is used to driving a Ferrari, he is not going to get too excited drivng a Golf GTI.
Sarah Whitelaw who made the trip from Cape Town to see Noble Tune once more, commented that "Honor Code is the most exciting stallion prospect in America, American Pharoah included. He has an exceptional pedigree in a racehorse and I cant wait to see him take on the Pharoah in the Breeders Cup."
Lynton went on to point out that leading American Racing journalist Frank Mitchell commented recently in an article, "One of the best bred colts in training, Honor Code, won the Gr1 Metropolitan Mile in a fast time and smashing style, as far as races that make stallions go, few have a higher reputation than the Metropolitan Mile which has been won by some the greatest sires, Native Dancer, Buckpasser, In Reality and Fappiano."
Lynton Ryan concluded his speeech: "The last horse that came to this country of this calibre was Fort Wood, and this is the best I have seen since and I say take your chance on Noble Tune now, because we might not see another one like this again!"
Noble Tune will stand his second season at stud this year for a fee of R25 000 (nomination R5000 + R20 000 live foal). Contact Mike McHardy on 083 447 5315 to make your booking.
View more photos from the day at the following link.
Bloodstock and pedigree specialist 'praise singer' Lynton Ryan made the trip back to Rathmor Stud for the Noble Tune stallion day once more this year, clearly excited about the prospects of Noble Tune he provided an insightful speech into how fortunate we are to have a stallion of this calibre in South Africa and KZN.
Lynton begins: "Honor Code is now the most valuable horse in America, never mind American Pharoah [who shares the same pedigree cross as Noble Tune]. Honor Code is unbuyable, this family is now 'the untouchables.' The reason I say that, is that Noble Tune's half-sister went throught the ring seven months ago for $3-million dollars and no matter what a horses pedigree is, the market dictates the true value.
"How this horse [Noble Tune] got here, I dont know, but we got him, lets love him and enjoy him!"
"The farm that bought the filly purchased Serena's Song, her fourth dam, for $60 000. This is the most powerful Thoroughbred family in America. We will know in the first week of November who is the best horse in the USA between Honor Code and American Pharoah, as they are both listed to run in the Breeders Cup Classic.
"The person who bought Honor Code also bought American Pharoah, if Honor Code does beat him he might just become the most valuable horse in the world, and we have his half-brother right here.
Lynton goes on to say: "Noble Tune is the product of three song birds; Unbridled's Song, Glorious Song and Serena's Song. Those two fillies when they raced were the best of their generation and when they got to stud, they carried on. I cant tell you how lucky we are to have this greatness surrounding Noble Tune.
"Unbridled's Song's sons and daughters are in huge demand."
"Galileo is great because the excellence is right there; we dont have to hunt for it on the pedigre page and its the same with Noble Tune, you dont have to go down generations to find it. It is a fast developing family, that goes back three generations. The first foal for Stakes winning Serena's Cat was Noble Tune and he was the top of his generation.
"If Noble Tune wasnt a first foal, we wouldnt be gathered here today. The second foal is Honor Code who is unbuyable, he has been purchased by Lane's End farm to replace his sire A.P. Indy who they stood and pensioned there. The next foal won two races in a row, and the next foal sold for $3-million.
"Her next foal is by War Front and Serena's Tune could quite possibly be voted Broodmare Of The Year, a definite contender. The man who purchased Honor Code described him as a genetic masterpiece, and the same can be said for that of Noble Tune.
Lynton goes on to say that Noble Tune is a non-compromised stallion, as was Silvano and Fort Wood when they came to this country.
"In his asthetic appeal, his pedigree and his race record. Alistair Brown sourced two incredible champions that were brought to this country, and if their sons were diamonds, their daughters were gold. Both Fort Wood and Al Mufti have left legacies, and Alistair Brown sourced Noble Tune, that is his expertise.
