Rathmor Stud: Noble Tune Stallion Day
Rathmor Stud held their annual stallion day in honour of their special stallion Noble Tune on Sunday at their beautiful farm in Nottingham Road – with 200 guests from across the country, including leading breeders and trainers from the Cape and Johannesburg.
An eyecatching setting with an impressive transluscent tent and Noble Tune beanies on the chairs for guests, everyone was treated to what has become a tradition on Rathmor’s day with a giant seafood paella, an unbelievable amount of prawns and glorious lamb chops amongst the lunch on offer, along with a juice bar and cheese stand not forgetting the bar handled by Brad McHardy.
As the champagne and wine flowed on a warm winter Midlands day, MC Graeme Hawkins took the microphone to introduce the stallion everyone wanted to see. Lynton Ryan took over, and gave a moving but brief history on the pedigree and outstanding quality of Noble Tune as the handsome stallion circled the arena quietly with his handler.
Lynton highlighted the quality of the yearlings we have seen at sales and the sales results speak for themselves – from the Cape Yearling Sale, the Nationals and the KZN Yearling Sale.
Noble Tune has let down into a magnificent speciman, covering the ground with his big cat-like stride and oozing plenty of quality.
His most expensive yearling to date was bred and consigned by Piemonte Stud, whilst the KZN Yearling Sale saw Noble Tune as the leading sire overall. Lynton Ryan said that he was proud of the fact that he had secured Noble Tune’s first yearling that came on the market in South Africa for a client at the Cape Yearling Sale, and enthused that the colt sold was the mirror image of his sire.
The first son of Unbridled’s Song to stand in South Africa (the latter a leading sire of the mighty Arrogate and Liam’s Map amongst many others), out of a hot international damline, Noble Tune is throwing his goodlooks, cat like-walk and athleticsm into his babies. Rathmor have secured a top quality band of mares including a recent R2,4million purchase from the recent CTS Mare sale at Highlands.
Noble Tune’s half-brother, dual Gr1 winner Honor Code, is producing the same at stud with foals of outstanding quality. Noble Tune placed second in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile on turf, and won a Gr2 and Gr3 amongst his outstanding efforts.
Noble Tune has had strong support from the Cape which has been wonderful to see, and the bookings have continued from the fairest province for the upcoming breeding season.
Noble Tune has impressed from the minute he landed on African soil, through to his foals and yearlings – now we look forward to watching them run!
Rathmor would like to thank everyone who came along, and to their sponsors who assisted with the day, including The Equine Group (who also insure Noble Tune) and Bene spring water.
A few pictures below from the day, view the full gallery at the following link on Facebook.
