Warwick and Karin Render’s Bush Hill Stud, the breeders of such G1 winners as Wolf Whistle, Stellite and Zirconeum, will be offering a top-class draft at the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale this April.

Bush Hill’s 12 strong draft includes yearlings by such proven G1 producing sires as Var, Oratorio, and Pathfork, as well as youngsters from the first crops of exciting stallions Flying The Flag, Coup De Grace and Willow Magic.

Resident sire, the impeccably red Galileo horse Flying The Flag, has four yearlings from his eagerly awaited first crop included in the Bush Hill Stud National Sale draft. The own brother to G1 winners Rhododendron and Magical is responsible for a colt (Lot 276) whose 5 time winning dam is a ½ to G1 performer She’s A Dragon, a filly (Lot 284) out of G2 The Fillies Nursery third Ashjaan, a half-brother (Lot 494) to Listed Michaelmas Handicap hero King Neptune, and a colt (Lot 502) whose G3 placed dam is a 5 time winning half-sister to Caradoc Gold Cup winner Chico Azul.

Var, the sire of more than 20 G1 horses thus far, is represented here by a filly (Lot 94) out of Fillies Guineas winner Go Indigo –a half-sister to a stakes winner by Var, while Var’s triple G1 winning stablemate Oratorio is the sire of a colt (Lot 259) whose dam was a stakes placed winner of four.

Crusade and Pathfork, both G1 winners at two, are both represented in the draft –Crusade colt Westminster (Lot 272) is a half-brother to 3 winners notably dual G3 Spring Spree Stakes second Angel’s Power, while Pathfork has a colt (Lot 526) out of G1 Thekwini Stakes runner up Silent Call.

Talented G2 The Debutante winner Tempted is represented in the Bush Hill draft by a colt (Lot 232) by triple G1 winner Jackson, while Tapit’s multiple graded stakes winning son Coup De Grace has a first crop son (Lot 314) out of Pretty Polly Stakes third place-getter Carina Coleman.

Another young sire with members of his first crop in this draft is Dubawi’s G1 SA Nursery winning son Willow Magic. The latter has a filly (Lot 429) out of G3 Magnolia Handicap winner and prolific producer Lee Danzig, while the latter’s daughter Millenium Reign also has a filly (Lot 448) by Willow Nursery on offer.

The 2019 National Yearling Sale is set to be held at the TBA complex in Germiston from April 24th to 26th and the catalogue can be viewed online at www.bsa.co.za.

Bruce Le Roux once again brings an outstanding draft of yearlings to the Nationals at the end of April, including progeny by Querari, Flower Alley, first season sire Flying The Flag, Futura, Mogok, Twice Over, Legislate, Crusade, What A Winter and Master Of My Fate amongst others.

The Flying Flag and Eightfold Colt pictured scored 9 on physical inspection.

Images: Candiese Marnewick

Bush Hill’s imposing and impeccably bred son of Aussie super sire Redoute’s Choice has produced his first winner – the Piemonte-bred flashy Aldo won second time out after placing second on debut.

Redoute’s Promise has produced this win from only three runners with fives starts and his yearlings are striking and handsome individuals.

Trained by Alan Greef and owned by his breeders Lee Scribante in partnership with his brother, the juvenile gelding is a half-brother to 3-time winner Filippo, trained by Yogas Govender.

Out of the very speedy filly Wishful Eye by Var, she was one of the rare fillies to beat her great paternal half-sister Val De Ra at the track.

In total, Redoute’s Promise’s dam, Perfect Promise, has produced three winners at stud and five as a second dam. Both More Energy and Hard Promise are Black Type horses.

After winning the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, Gr3 Diana Stakes and the Listed Prix Du Cap, she carried forward her good form to land the Australian Gr1 CJ Orr Stakes and the Gr2 Emancipation Stakes.

Her full sister Irridescence also had her share of South African Gr1 wins in the Woolavington 2000 and SA Fillies Classic, and would go on to beat sire Australia’s dam, the great Ouija Board in the Gr1 QE II Cup in Hong Kong, after securing a Gr2 in Dubai.

Sire Redoute’s Choice has been a phenomenon at stud with three Champion Sire titles, 32 individual Gr1 winners and a sire of sires at stud – he has been crowned the best son of Danehill at stud today.

His sons at stud are excelling with the likes of Snitzel, Not A Single Doubt and Stratum and Beneteau.

Redoute’s Promise is the first son of Redoute’s Choice to stand at stud in South Africa, and resides at Bush Hill Stud in Moo River.

A R120 000 National Yearling Sale graduate won the 1400m contest in the Leslie Logan silks from a wide draw and looks a filly set to go over more ground.

It was appropriate that Gavin van Zyl saddled The Apache’s first winner as he guided the son of Mogok throughout his illustrious career on South African soil.

The Apache has gone full circle as he was bred by Scott Bros at their Highdown Stud, from resident stallion Mogok out of Apache Rose (by Dolpour). He went under the hammer at the 2009 BSA Two Year Old sale and was knocked down for R80 000 to Winston Chow.

Being earmarked for export to Hong Kong meant that local conditioner Gavin van Zyl had to plan his colt’s career carefully, as Hong Kong Jockey Club rules preclude imports of horses with more than 17 starts. The Apache progressed rapidly, winning his maiden at the third time of asking and soon proved himself in stakes company, winning the Gr2 Dingaans in November 2010 by 1.25 lengths.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum purchased a 50% interest in the colt and he set sail for Dubai in early 2012, having been declared Equus Champion 3yo Colt and winning six of his 15 starts and accumulating R1,9 million in stakes, including the Gr1 Daily News and the Gr1 Champion Stakes, a fourth place finish in Igugu’s 2011 Durban July and a sixth in the 2012 J&B Met, beaten under two lengths by the star mare.

His next outing was the Gr1 Jebel Hatta on 9 March 2013, where he took on stable mates Masterofhounds and Igugu. It looked all over at the 200m mark, but then Godolphin’s talented filly Shajjhaa swooped to beat him by a narrow 0.75 lengths. The Apache followed up with another good second in the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free on World Cup night, again being denied by the Godolphin runner by 1.75 lengths.

The Apache then boarded a plane for the UK, where he ran 4th under Pat Cosgrave in a Gr2 Sky Bet York Stakes on 27 July 2013, finishing 4 lengths behind the talented Mukhadram from the William Haggas yard.

Mike de Kock’s main objective for the colt had always been the Group 1 Arlington Million and by the time The Apache landed in the United States, he had completed five long distance flights and visited four countries in just over a year! The 31st running of the Gr1 Arlington Million over 2000m took place in Chicago on 17 August 2013 and will no doubt live on in racing folklore. The Apache crossed the line ahead of nearest rival Real Solution, only to lose the race on objection in the boardroom.

The Apache went to stud having raced in SA, UAE, UK & the USA for 7 wins from 1600-2000m at 3 to 5, for earnings of R17 million.  The Equus Champion 3yo colt reached a Timeform  rating of 120 at peak.

The Apache has one lot (#328) in the final session of this week’s CTS April Yearling Sale.

Keep a look out for an outstanding first foal by Crusade out of a full sister to The Apache at the upcoming National  Yearling Sale from Scott Bros.

With only five runners on the track, Rathmor Stud stallion Noble Tune got off the mark at Scottsville on Wednesday when the Kumaran Naidoo trained Awesomely Tuned won at her third start.

Mike McHardy of Rathmor Stud commented that he is “so pleased to see Noble Tune’s first winner – hopefully the first of many!!”

Very pleasantly surprised, Mike went on to say “It is a little unexpected as Awesomely Tuned is out of a stout mare, which shows that Noble Tune is adding plenty of speed.”

The good looking filly was bred by Mr Shakthi Bunwarie and is out of the three-time winning Cataloochee mare, Gr3 placed Awesome Beauty – who has got her stud career off to a cracking start with two runners and two winners to date, the other being Awesome Angel One.

Awesomely Tuned was born and raised at the McHardy’s Rathmor Stud.

She had improved steadily from fourth on her polytrack debut to third at her last start, before bounding home to register a good win over the turf 1200m in a time of 70,36 seecs.

The first son of Unbridled’s Song to stand at stud in South Africa, Noble Tune is a half-brother to dual Gr1 winner Honor Code, and stood his first season in 2014. His first crop are now two year olds. Unbridled’s Song, albeit deceased is a leading sire and broodmare sire in America, and amongst his recent champions are Arrogate, Liam’s Map and very recent Eclipse Award winner, Unbridled Forever.

The first foal for Noble Tune’s dam and Stakes winner Serena’s Cat – her progeny have been in demand since the arrival of Noble Tune and Honor Code (whose first foals fetched up to $370,000 in 2017), and Lynton Ryan explained at a Stallion Day to the audience that “the cream” of the world’s Thoroughbred breeding establishments had all rallied to secure progeny from the daughter of Storm Cat and a grand-daughter of the great Serena’s Song – including Lane’s End and Coolmore – to which Lynton added “Rathmor Stud is in good company!”

In 2014 their Tapit half-sister named Serena’s Harmony set a world record when she was knocked down at the Keeneland weanling sale for $3million. A year later, their War Front half brother, Declarationofpeace, sold for $2,6million – and went on to win the Juvenile Turf Sprint at the 2017 Breeders’ Cup meeting.

Bred on the proven cross of Fappiano x Storm Cat that has produced amongst many champions 2015 Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah, Noble Tune’s sire-line is  unique to the South African studbook as Fappiano is now considered a new branch of the Mr Prospector sire-line.

Noble Tune was bred in Kentucky by Dell Ridge Farm, who acquired Serena’s Cat–a grand-daughter of US champion Serena’s Song (Rahy)–for $1.4 million as a weanling at the 2003 Keeneland November sale. Trained by Chad Brown, Noble Tune was a leading turf horse of his generation in 2012, and was sourced to stand in South Africa the following year by Alistair Brown’s Equarius Bloodstock. He retired with four wins from seven starts and earnings of $491,682.

Noble Tune placed second in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile on turf, and won a Gr2 and Gr3 amongst his outstanding efforts. Amongst his damline is the likes of European champion filly Rizeena, Sophisticat and Puissance De Lune.

Rathmor Stud have purchased an outstanding band of broodmares to supplement Noble Tune’s book, including two mares that have topped the two previous CTS Premier Mare Sales – for a price of R2,4-million and R2,6-million respectively. Rathmor also have amongst their band the dams of Lady In Black, Eventual Angel (a resident broodmare herself) and African Love to name but a few.

Rathmor Stud have the following yearlings going to the BSA National Yearling Sale in April by Noble Tune:

Testimony – filly out of Verbatim

Leading Lyric – filly out of Approach Me

Helluva  Ride – colt out of Time And Tide

Ghost Note – colt out of Silent Nights (AUS)

Manhattan Melody – colt out of Big On Broadway

Unnamed – colt out of Mythical Model (acting as Agent)

Noble Tune has had full books each year with substantial support from leading Cape farms, and stands at Rathmor for a fee of R25 000.

The Scott Bros’ well performed young stallion Crusade was represented by his first stakes winner when his progressive daughter Covered In Snow captured the Listed Swallow Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.

Bred by the Clifton Stud, and owned by Peter White, the Dianne Stenger trained three-year-old made it three wins from just four outings when victorious in the Swallow Stakes, defeating a host of high class fillies in the process.

Covered In Snow, who was ridden to victory by Muzi Yeni, has now won her last three races in a row.

Peter Blyth of Clifton Stud said he was very excited about the result and “delighted all round – just what the doctor ordered!” Peter was very pleased to note that the dam Blue Nevada is currently in foal to Crusade once more. He ended off with saying, “hold thumbs we get a smart full to Covered In Snow!”

Blue Nevada by Anytime – a 5-time winner herself by a good stallion that sadly died prematurely, has a thorough Clifton damline, descending from the same family as Clifton-bred Gr2 winner, Glenrossal.

Blue Nevada, out of Crystal De Roche mare Sierra Blue has produced three winners from three runners. Her 2016 foal is by Jackson, whilst her filly currently at foot is by Ideal World.

Purchased with the assistance of the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme and owned in a syndicate by the KZN Breeders Club, sire Crusade won the Gr1 Middle Park Stakes, one of the most prestigious 2yo races in Britain, and a race won previously by sire greats Oasis Dream, Diesis, Petingo, Djebel and Sharpen Up.

Stuart Crawford, the secretary of the Crusade Syndicate commented on the great result: “Judging by the quality of his stock and the number of winners, we were confident  that he will get his share of Black Type progeny.”

Slightly Scottish, by Crusade and trained by Dean Kannemeyer, has been entered for the upcoming Michael Roberts Listed, and looks on course after placing at Scottsville yesterday behind Redeemer.

Crusade is one of more than 60 stakes winners sired by Gone West’s Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint runner up Mr Greeley.
The latter is also responsible for star fillies Finsceal Beo and Saoirse Ab, G1 Sussex Stakes winner Reel Buddy and Gr1 winner and successful sire El Corredor.

Crusade is out of the brilliant Johannesburg mare La Traviata, who won the Gr3 Victory Ride Stakes by nine and a quarter lengths.

La Traviata is also the dam of  Gr1 Irish/Yorkshire Oaks winner Seventh Heaven, the earner of more than £1.6 million in prize money, as well as last season’s high class Irish 2yo Coat Of Arms.

The latter, runner up in the Gr2 Futurity Stakes last year, holds an entry for the 2018 G1 Investec Derby.

Look out for his next crop on offer at the upcoming National Yearling Sale in April 2018 – including a full sister to 2x time winner Subtropical (and half-sister to Gr1 placed Matador Man), the first foal out of a full sister to The Apache, a half-sister to multiple winners Cannes, Runalong and The Rising Legend, a half-sister to Angel’s Power, half-brother to African Dream and to D’Arrivee.

-extract bsa.co.za (Sarah Whitelaw)

Brigtnumberten gave his sire Eightfold Path his first winner comfortably this afternoon at Turffontein over 1000m under Gavin Lerena for trainer Roy Magner.

Bred by BIT Thoroughbreds’ Mr Guo and owned by Hartley SA (PTY) Ltd (nom: Peter Gibson), the three year old colt was looking for the victory after placing in his prior two starts – his last run second over the same course and distance.

Eightfold Path, a French Gr3 and Listed winner by Giant’s Causeway is impeccably-bred out of the 5-time Gr1 winner Divine Proportions, stands at Scott Bros’ Highdown Stud. From his eight runners this season, four have placed. The previous season saw nine of his 10 runners place.

The first foal of Divine Proportions, Eightfold Path bears a remarkable resemblance to his brilliant mother who hails from a sire producing female line, the likes of Shirley Heights and Pentire Champion Sires in their own right – with Konigstiger and Whipper also featuring prominently in sires lists in Europe.

On the racetrack, Eightfold Path showed early brilliance for leading French trainer, Pascal Bary, winning on debut and then following up with a third placed effort behind subsequent Group One performers, Buzzword and Siyouni, in the Group Three Prix La Rochette over 1400m. Eightfold Path closed off his two year old campaign with a stylish victory in the Group Three Prix Eclipse over 1200m.

Racing in the famous Niarchos colours, Eightfold Path was one of Bary’s leading hopes for the 2010 Classic season, but plans had to be shelved when he sustained an injury during the build up to the French 2000 Guineas.

On his return at four years, he won another two races including a Listed mile event at Deauville.

Brigtnumberten is out of Summer Dew by Joshua Dancer; this is the first runner for the dam who has produced twice more to Eightfold Path.

The only son of Giant’s Causeway standing at stud currently in South Africa, Eightfold Path’s top priced yearling to date sold for R325 000 at the National Yearling Sale.

He stands for a fee of R10 000 this season.

Starting off in KZN and later purchased by Mauritzfontein, the Gr1 winning young sire Byword, whose half-brother Finche made a stunning winning debut at Deauville on Sunday, was represented by his first winner when first crop son Talk Wrench won over 1000m on Monday at Flamingo Park.

Bred by Rob and Michele Pickering who sourced and stood Byword before he was sold on and relocated, Talk Wrench has now won or placed in four of six outings. The KZN-bred colt was a R220 000 purchase from last year’s National Yearling Sale, trained by Philip Smith and owned by Dr AC Botha. Talk Wrench, an attractive chestnut colt is out of Bearing Strait by Caesour. This is the damline of Sevillano, Herod The Great and Jet Lady. 

He is from the first crop of outstanding racehorse Byword, who was France’s highweight Older Horse in 2010.

Byword’s seven wins included the G1 Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (where he beat seven individual Gr1 winners), G2 Prix du Muguet and G2 Prix du Dollar (where Byword accounted for seven time G1 winner Cirrus Des Aigles). The chestnut also ran second to triple G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Goldikova in the 2010 G1 Prix d’Ispahan.

He is one of 12 G1 winners sired by French champion Peintre Celebre (by Nureyev), and is out of former Broodmare Of The Year Binche, dam also of four time G1 winner Proviso. This is the same family as 2015 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint winner Peniaphobia and US champion racemare Wandesta among others.

Bywords yearlings have made up to R2 000 000 at sales to date. 

– extract www.tba.co.za

A flashy bay colt was the news of the day at Scottsville last year, as the white faced juvenile Ishnana blazed to a debut victory not only for himself, but for his first time owner Mr Thabo Mhlongo.

Thabo is a highly successful businessman who amongst his company Ishnana Holdings has significant portfolios such as property development, retail, manufacturing and resources, including one of Howick’s iconic landmarks Thabo’s Antiques amongst them.

At odds of 20/1 under jockey Mandla Ntuli, the Garth Puller trained two year old won by almost a length going away from Black Ball (Black Minnaloushe) and Sniper Shot (Judpot) over the 1200m straight at Scottsville.

The colt is bred by Mr Robert Smith out of his Northern Guest mare Bird Strike, by little know sire Al Miqdaam – a resident son of Danehill at Roy Moodley’s breeding operation in Mooi River, and the sire of Al Ciberano. The combination of Al Miqdaam and Bird Strike has been a winning formula previously, with his full sister, a 2010 foal named Shikra, a previous winner over 1600m for trainer Lola Crawford.

Robert Smith interestingly bred the dam of multiple Gr1 winner Captain Of All, the Fard mare Serious Side.

Upon enquring with Mr Thabo Mhlongo’s contact details, they matched the horses name, Ishnana. “We named him after our company, which is a name made up from our children’s names. My son before school this morning said  ‘hey Dad, I have this feeling Ishnana is going to win today!”

Mr Mhlongo begins the story of how he came to owning the colt, Ishnana. “About 10 years ago, Rob introduced me to what he was doing with the horses and tried to pursue me to get involved, he said its a sport that can unite families and enjoy it with your wife and family and friends.” Mr Mhlongo chuckles and continues, “I kept ignoring Rob and continued doing other things besides the horses. Two years ago he came back strong – he invited us to his farm to look at them, where he breeds them and we looked. Then last year again, Rob said he had some babies without names coming up, and he asked me if I was sure I didnt want a horse – and that I needed to find time to enjoy life. I told him I would think about it.”

“I asked Rob to take me through the process. Eventually, I went to see the horse on my own and Rob said to me, I think this is the one for you and I could come in as a partner, if I didnt want to own the horse outright. We went into the paddock and Rob began to chase them around, and they all ran except for Ishnana. He just stopped and looked at us. I asked Rob, why is this horse not running? Ishnana was looking at us with his ears pricked. Rob chased him again, and once more the colt stopped, turned and looked at us, and I said to Rob, this is the one I want.”

“I went home to talk to my wife and get her approval. My wife and family came with me the next day after church to look again. I showed her the horse I liked and my youngest daughter Nathi, said ‘Daddy I like this one too’ and my son agreed. My wife said well that is that – this is the horse for us!”

“We had a separate meeting with Garth [Puller] who took us through the process and explained everything to us. He has been keeping us informed and up to date and encouraging us. He has also invited us to see the horse at Summerveld and we went to the training stables to see Ishnana. I am convinced the horse remembers us from the farm because he came straight towards us and walked up, his ears up and he was swishing his tail.”

Thabo recounts the race day. “The feeling when we went into the parade ring – Ishnana is different to the other horses and I felt good, this is a nice horse. When they cantered to the start, Garth told us ‘you have a good horse here, I am telling you!’ I had a feeling inside me that he was going to win. I told Rob I wanted to put more money on him and Rob said no (he was trying to manage my possible disappoinment) but I still made R460 on him from what Rob suggested I bet. As we saw him coming we started shouting him home! Rob just hugged me and said the horse has come through for us, it was great fun!!!”

“Garth is a great guy and I can see now what Rob had wanted to show me ten years ago, and experience.”

Ishnana’s dam Bird Strike is by Champion broodmare sire Northern Guest, in turn out of a Bush Telegraph / Royal Prerogative mare, Winged Signal. This female line has produced Gr1 Champions Stakes winner Swan Prince, as well as 1987 Arcsa Champion in 1987, Mark Anthony – a Gr1 J&B Met and Queen’s Plate winner.

From very small crops to date, Al Miqdaam has produced winners Al Ciberano, Shikra, Roy’s Twilight and Ishnana.

Al Miqdaam is out of Gr1 winner St Clemens Belle(AUS) in turn out of British mare St Clemens, by Canadian sire London Bells out of American mare Emotional by Sensitive Prince – truly an international pedigree.

St Clemens Belle achieved seven wins from two years of age over 1000m to 1600m. She won the WATC Stakes Gr1, the MVRC Champagne Stakes Gr2, Bill Stutt Stakes Gr2, SAJC Smoke-Free Stakes Gr3, VRC Hilton on the Park Sprint Handicap Listed as well as the MVRC Silver Jubilee Stakes Listed.

Her half-sister Sanctus is a Stakes Winner too, producing three decent horses with 11 wins between them.

Under the third dam is Be My Princess, another Stakes Winner who won six times and produced Turffontein Goldfields Sprint Handicap Listed winner, Flying Princess.

Al Miqdaam was purchased by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and began his racing career in Australia. He ran in seven Barrier Trials over five months – winning two, placing second twice and a third and fourth, and changing trainers in between.

Three months after being in a different yard, he placed twice more and arrived in South Africa – sent out for his first start a month short of two years later, at Scottsville.

Al Miqdaam finished second for trainer Mike De Kock over 1000m. He only raced four more times, twice finishing just short of the placings and preferring shorter trips over 1000 – 1200m, once finishing just behind Art Of War.

Congratulations to the winning connections of Ishnana – we are certain to see much more from this horse in the near future.

Capetown Noir is by Western Winter out of Akinfeet by Fort Wood has a close link to Summerhill pedigree wise, with his grand dam, Guineas winner Dance Every Dance by Northern Guest – herself the grandchild of Champion sire Jungle Cove.

After winning his debut by two lengths, Anton Marcus hailed Capetown Noir as the best juvenile he had sat on that season.

A R1-million yearling with a career that spanned over three years, the big dark bay colt with the unusual white blaze down his face annhilated the likes of Run For It, Sanshaawes, Love Struck and King Of Pain, Yorker and Jackson. Capetown Noir won the Gr1 Cape Premier Guineas, the Gr1 Investec Derby, the Gr3 Byerley Turk, Gr3 Matchem Stakes and Gr1 LÓrmarins Queens Plate.

Linngari, a son of Indian Ridge out of Lidakiya by Kahyasi and in turn out of a Doyoun mare, is an asset to KZN with his blue blooded pedigree and impressive globe trotting Group winning race record, something he has passed down to the likes of his progeny such as Mr Pommeroy and French Stakes winner Garlingari.

From ages five to six Linngari was rated 124, and earned Black Type in eight countries with 11 wins, only out of the money from four of his 29 starts. He captured two Gr1’s in the process and three Gr2’s, including finishing third in the Gr1 English Champion Stakes behind New Approach.

Linngari ranked second only to the brilliant Le Havre among French sires of Three-Year-Olds in 2014 and has produced five Stakes winners and Six Stakes horses already, as well as numbers of 4,5,6 and 8-time winners.

With 180 foals born last season at KZN’s flagship farm, seen amongst them is a magnificent Trippi foal out of grey mare Jordie by Fard – the dam of dual Gr1 winner Rabada.

See below a few of the progeny from Capetown Noir and Linngari.

(Photos taken 23 January)