Standing at Summerhill Stud, the Summerhill-bred Stella Act – a R30 000 KZN Yearling Sales graduate of 2019 consigned as Agent by Rathmor Stud, won second time out for her new owner Wayne Maybery and partners (and trainer) Glen Kotzen and Theo Muthusamy.

The filly is out of Irish Anabaa mare, Bella Anna. Her second dam is a half-sister to 16-time winner Snake Eyes, former SA sire Linney Head and King Ivor. It is the 2nd produce for the mare.

She was ridden by Jabu Jacobs who enjoyed three winners on the day.

From only five runners, Act Of War has now had 2 wins and 2 places.

Well done to all concerned.

He produced his first winner from his first runner at Fairview on Friday when his Piemonte Stud-bred son Daichi made a winning debut over 1000m for Gavin Smith in impressive fashion.

Act Of War – top notch racehorse

Under jockey Marco Van Rensburg, the Act Of War colt kept going gamely to record a half length win in a time of 57,42 secs.

A R70 000 buy from the 2019 Emperors Palace National 2YO Sale, Daichi is out of the two time winning Captain Al mare Darrie. His connections picked up a R60 000 Bloodstock SA Value Added Bonus for the victor.

His sire Act Of War won eight of only 12 starts for Joey Ramsden, with his six graded victories including a triumph in the 2014 G1 Cape Guineas, as well as scores in all of the Gr2 Selangor Cup, Gr3 Kuda Matchem Stakes, Gr3 Langerman and Gr3 Cape Classic.

Unplaced just once from 12 starts, Act Of War earned R1 820 500.

Act Of War, who won graded races at two, three and four, is one of seven winners produced by the stakes placed Cordoba mare Si Senorita.

The latter, also dam of Gr3 Langerman winner Subastador and Listed Off To Stud Handicap winner Luna De Victoria, was South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year in 2014-2015.

Act Of War stands at Summerhill – his fee is available on application.

Breeders of such standout performers Gypsy’s Warning, Surabi, Romany Prince and the G1 winning half-siblings Malteme and Wendywood, Rathmor Stud will be offering a superb consignment at the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale this month.

Rathmor’s draft includes yearlings by outstanding stallions Frankel, Captain Al, Dynasty and Var, as well as lots by such exciting and popular young sires Coup De Grace and Global View, while the blue blooded Unbridled’s Song horse Noble Tune has six in the Rathmor draft.

His race record is up there with the best and at one point undefeated with six wins in a row – accumulating 8 wins in total from 12 starts with two seconds. His wins include the Gr1 Cape Guineas, Gr2 Selangor Cup and going on to win three Gr3 races, as well as the Winter Juvenile Stakes Listed. He placed second again the Gr1 Cape Derby and placed in the Gr2 Green Point Stakes.

Summerhill’s website describe Act Of War as “A towering, athletic beast of princely proportions, not even the casual racegoer could’ve mistaken his presence and the elegance of his action for anything but the belongings of a comet in the making. “Not only was he the best miler of his generation, he was also one of the best milers I have ridden. Genuine, exactly the type to go to war with”. That’s what Anton Marcus thinks, and when he speaks, even the church mice listen.”

He is out of Equus Broodmare of the Year Si Señorita (Cordoba), who produced 7 winners at stud – incredibly four of them are Black Type, aside from Act Of War they include Subastador, The Stone Thrower and Luna De Victoria. Its the family of Top Gallant and Sharp Cookie.

Amongst the Lots on offer is Lot 34 from Rosedene Stud out of Gr2 winning Checcetti by Kahal. The mare has produced a winner with Make Your Move, from the family of Galant Gagnant. Another highlight is Lot 151 from Rosedene, out of Silvano mare Silver Carpet. This is a family bursting with Black Type, including William The Silent, Little Miss Magic, Bilateral and Blaze Of Fire.

Golden Touch Thoroughbreds offer his final Lot 173, out of a 3-time winning mare by a stallion that is a full brother to Giant’s Causeway – Tiger Dance. It is another leading American family that includes Menifee, Blueridge Mountain, sire Fasliyev, Misty For Me, Royal Poly, US Navy Flag and Ballydoyle.

Visit www.bsa.co.za to view more.

Whilst their places will only be confirmed after National Yearling Sales inspections have taken place in January, Rathmor Stud have a very strong draft beginning their sales preparations for the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.

They include progeny by Frankel, Dynasty and Noble Tune – two of them out of sales topping mares purchased off the CTS Mare Sales in 2017, for R2,4-million (Almosthaditall) and R2,6-million (Queen Of Spain) respectively.

Whilst walking through the paddocks as the colts quietly concentrate on their feed after the breakfast run, Mike McHardy of Rathmor Stud comments that although the paddock is brimming with stock from superior stallions, its important not to ‘mollycoddle’ them and to raise them as normal horses, who dont know who their famous sires are.

Noble Tune has already earned Black Type with his smart grey son White Lightning, who was born and raised at Rathmor Stud. Rathmor have bred the likes of Gypsy’s Warning, Wendywood, Surabi, Romany Prince and Harry Lime amongst others.

Their National yearlings are out of mares bought specifically for Noble Tune, which include:

– Dynasty colt out of Guard The Lines by War Front
  Dam is a full sister to American Gr1 and Gr2 winner DATA LINK.

– Noble Tune out of Spitfire Lady by Hussonet
  Family of PINNACLES and PLANET ROCK.

– Noble Tune out of Mystery Dame by Jet Master
  Half-brother to Gr1 winner LADY IN BLACK, and to Nexus who sold for R1,7-million in 2017.

– Frankel out of Queen Of Spain by Holy Roman Emperor
  Dam a half-sister to MASTERCRAFTSMAN.

– Dynasty out of Almosthaditall by Henrythenavigator
  Dam a half-sister to JUMP START and closely related to MASTERY. Damline of sire MISWAKI.

– Noble Tune out of Golden Earings by Fort Wood
  Dam a half-sister to GYPSY’S WARNING, ROMANY PRINCE and SURABI. 2nd Dam Gypsy Queen has already       produced Black Type grand-children including SO VAR and QUEEN FOREVER. 

The successful partnership of Tinus Gericke and Bruce Le Roux (Chairman of the KZN Breeders Club) have purchased a share in South Africa’s champion sire Dynasty.

Bruce and Tinus have been purchasing well bred fillies from yearling sales countrywide to improve their broodmare band in KZN over the past few years, and have achieved an excellent strike rate with every single one flying past the winning post in first place so far – including two achieving Graded Stakes success – a Gr2 win with Var mare A Woman’s Way, and the unbeaten sensational filly, Hashtagyolo, who captured the Gr3 Flamboyant.

Hashtagyolo is a Varsfontein-bred daughter of Dynasty who looks to the have the Triple Crown in her sights.

Next month’s Parade Magazine will feature the story of both Bruce Le Roux and Tinus Gericke, who have purchased amongst the fillies A Woman’s Way, Marsala, Hashtagyolo, Love Theme and originally, the great Green Pepper!

Farms in KZN are standing superb mares at the moment across the board including Streetwise (the dam of Talk Of The Town), Vinn Fizz (dam of Pierre Jourdan, Champagne Haze and Belle Rose) and two of the most expensive mares to sell at CTS Premier Mare Sale in 2017 and 2018 (almost R6-million between the two mares), as well as Mystery Dame (Lady In Black) amongst many others have found their way to Nottingham Road.

Champion Breeders for over 10 years nationally, Summerhill Stud’s broodmare band have carried them to this outstanding achievement and stand the dams of two Gr1 winners in particular, and not excluding Scott Bros, who have lost track of the sheer number of Group Winners they have produced over almost 50 years, and have been in the top 10 on the National Breeders Log for many years without fail.

KZN currently stand two sons of Dynasty at stud, Act Of War (first crop are foals) and Irish Flame. Dynasty is following in the footsteps of his great sire Fort Wood, a prolific sire, sire of sires and broodmare sire.

KZN’s achievements at the tracks countrywide are quite remarkable, considering we stand less than 20% of the national broodmare band.

Some of the leading stallions and stallion prospects in the country have KZN roots – the most prolific being KZN-bred Jet Master who needs no introduction, whilst Yellow Star-born Futura, bred by Guy Murdoch is by Dynasty and off to a smart start with a crop of handsome foals. His Drakenstein-based racing and stable mate, Legislate’s dam line has KZN roots, whilst Querari’s Gr1 winning third dam was raced by Des Scott of Scott Bros. Peter Blyth of Clifton Stud is also part of Dynasty’s history as he stood Commodore Blake and sold Blake’s Affair as a young filly.

Congratulations to Bruce and Tinus and we look forward to the progeny to come from Spring Valley in the future.

Almosthaditall, who made South African breeding news headlines when she sold for a sales topping R2,4-million to Rathmor Stud, is at home in Nottingham Road in foal to Noble Tune, with an outstanding Dynasty colt at foot.

[view pedigree page]

A daughter of four time Gr1 winner and 2000 Guineas winner Henrythenavingator, she sold at the time in foal to Dynasty and topped the charts at the CTS Mares, Weanlings & Fillies for stud Select Sale held at Highlands.

Allmosthaditall (USA) is a winner in Ireland with a previous foal by Rock Of Gibraltar in 2015 and a Galileo foal since.

She is out of a Storm Cat / Mr Prospector mare, from the damline of Gr1 winner Mastery and sire Miswaki.

Henrythenavigator is the sire in South Africa of Gr2 Betting World 1900 winner Ten Gun Salute, and his winning daughter Almosthaditall is a half-sister to Gr2 winner and successful US sire Jump Start and to the dam of retired and undefeated Gr1 winner Mastery.

Rathmor have bolstered Noble Tune’s book significantly with outstanding mares, including purchasing the likes of Mystery Dame (dam of Gr1 winner Lady In Black), Summer Angel (Eventual Angel and Exit Here), Azure Sky and African Love amongst them all.

At the National Yearling Sale in 2017, Rathmor sold the full brother to Lady In Black for R1,7-million, as well as a Silvano and Captain Al for R700 000 each respectively out of Royal Aspen and Kiribati.

Keep a look out for an athletic Captain Al filly and the beautiful Oratorio sibling to Lady In Black at the 2018 BSA National Yearling Sale.

Rathmor also have an outstanding Noble Tune filly consigned out of Free Parking by Silvano, who oozes plenty of quality and class, and a beautiful Silvano yearling on offer amongst their eyecatching draft.

Rathmor Stud have significantly boosted their broodmare band and we look forward to the winners to come from them in the future.

Gold Cup day at Greyville yesterday saw two exciting results for Rathmor Stud for two of their resident mares.

In a Gr1 double for Dynasty (the sire of KZN sires Irish Flame and Act Of War – the latter whose first foals will be arriving shortly), Lady In Black trained by Dennis Drier remains unbeaten after three starts – winning the Gr1 Thekweni over 1600m on the Greyville turf in the same colours carried to multiple Gr1 success for KZN-born Futura.

The daughter of Dynasty is out of Mystery Dame by Jet Master – an astute purchase by Rathmor Stud to bolster the book of Noble Tune, Rathmor sold her Dynasty full brother earlier this year for R1,7million at the National Yearling Sale to John Freeman. Mike McHardy of Rathmor Stud has advised that she has an Oratorio yearling (as of 1 August tomorrow) and will foal down to Noble Tune this coming season.

Mystery Dame is out of Dame Kiri by Flaming Rock – this damline has produced The Merry Widow, Dance With Al and Singapore champion Lizarre. Mystery Dame is a half-sister to Gr1 winner, Talahatchie.

The second news to come was So Var’s second place to Al Mariarchi in the Gr3 Umkhomazi. So Var is a grandson of Rathmor Stud’s Gypsy Queen – his dam is Gr2 Rathmor-bred winner, Surabi. Bred by Maine Chance Farms and owned by Michael Leaf, So Var has won three times and placed four – yet to be out of the money from all of his starts.

Gypsy Queen had another Black Type win with Varsfontein-bred granddaughter, Queen Forever, owned in partnership by Lee Scribante of Piemonte Stud.

Well done to all concerned.

Mike and Tanya McHardy’s Rathmor Stud dominated the first day of the National Yearling Sale for the KZN Breeders, achieving outstanding results from four horses sold for an average of over R740 000 each, whilst history was also made when a yearling bred by Nothemba Mlonzi was sold at the Nationals for R100 000 from her Mwetwood Stud.

Rathmor got their day off to a good start with Lot 44, the first son of Noble Tune to enter the TBA auction arena knocked down to Glen Kotzen for R240 000. The handsome colt is a half-brother to a winner, out of a dam that is a half-sister to Potent Power. The Noble Tune’s have attracted attention at the Nationals with several leading trainers viewing.

The next Lot 66, Identity Thief, lit up the boards with active bidding only to be knocked down to John Freeman for R1,7-million. The handsome son of Dynasty is out of Mystery Dame by Jet Master, the female line of Lizare, Solid Speed and The Merry Widow.

The next was Rathmor’s Silvano colt – a yearling with immense presence and a big walk, once again John Freeman didnt miss the opportunity and took the yearling home for R700 000. Named Snowy Mountain, Lot 142 is a half-brother the Listed winner Royal Trip, the family of Kournikova and Harry Hotspur.

Rathmor also topped the boards for the top priced KZN-bred filly, with a beautiful daughter of Oratorio selling for R350 000 to Dennis Bosch. The filly is out of Mitra – a half-sister to Val De Ra, Tevez and Palladium. Named Mitra Music, she went as Lot 52.

Summerhill sold two Visionaire fillies – one to Duncan Howells Racing for R250 000 as Lot 4. The filly named Pulling Strings is out of Gr2 winner, La Pucelle, the damline includes Please Be True. The other, Lot 14 out of Legally Blonde was knocked down to Dynamic Syndications.

Scott Bros top seller of the day was an outstanding black filly by Crusade – a half-sister to Stakes winner Matador Man and Desert Fighter. The Tawny Syndicate snapped her up for R200 000.

Bush Hill Stud’s chestnut Crusade colt, which was seen frequently out for inspection went to Paul Lafferty for R150 000. A quality colt out of Royal Canton by Dominion Royale, this is the family of Hail Caesour and Cold As Ice.

Clifton Stud presented an eyecatching grey filly by Golden Sword out of Banyana Handicap winner, Sapphire Ring. She sold for R150 000 to Boneast (Pty) ltd, from the damline of Midnite Serenade and Smanjemanje.

The TBA Complex also saw history as Mwetwood Stud sold a beautiful Master Of My Fate filly for R100 000 – the first yearling to be bred and sold by a black lady. The filly is bred by businesswoman Nothemba Mlonzi and she was absolutely thrilled to see her filly sold to Nathan Kotzen.

The filly is impeccably bred – out of On A Wing by Tiger Ridge, this is the immediate damline of the brilliant 5-time Gr1 winning Hong Kong star, Able Friend – who headed the 2015 World Thoroughbred Rankings (Sprint), Equal Leading Older Male on the 2015 WTR (Mile), Horse of the Year, Champion Miler in Hong Kong in 2014-15.

The middle market of the sale was once again challenging this year but it was positive to see the average per horse sold at over R350 000 overall, for 122 Lots sold from 170 consigned on the first day.

The overall top seller was Lot 42 – a Silvano colt out of a full sister to KZN-sire Capetown Noir, knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R4-million.

The sale continues from 4-5 May, beginning at 11am each day.

After the enthusiastic 9yo Royal Zulu Warrior had set a decent gallop in the well subscribed feature , the race for glory was on down the home straight and any one of half the field looked to have a chance at the 300m marker.

With Anton Marcus unleashing the consistent Stormy Eclipse down the wide outside from many lengths back, Stuart Randolph produced It Is Written down the inside as the Keivan Stud-bred son of Dynasty took the shortest route home.

It Is Written ran on best to win well by 1,25 lengths in a time of 96,91 secs.

A solid handicapper, It Is Written showed early promise and was being spoken about as a July candidate. His two KZN Champions Season victories culminated in a good win in the KZN Breeders 1600.

He ran in the Consolation July where he finished 8,40 lengths behind Ultimate Dollar.

It was Kannemeyer’s second December feature winner for owner Fred Crabbia, after Captain Alfredo (out of a King Of Kings mare) had clinched top honours in the Listed Southeaster Sprint at Kenilworth on 5 December.

It Is Written was bred by Keivan Stud and is a son of Dynasty out of the one-time winning Northfields mare, Good Rapport who has produced over 4 winners to date. The mare is a half-sister to American Flyer, from the damline of Australian 2YO Champion filly, Midnight Fever.

A R210 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, It Is Written has now won R535 925 in stakes and took his win tally to 7 with 2 places from 21 starts.

Congratulations to all concerned!

– extract sportingpost.co.za