A respected business lady in Johannesburg who also owns a farm in the beautiful Birnamwood area outside of Howick, Ms Mlonzi made the news when she sold her Master Of My Fate filly, Master Keys, at the National Yearling Sale in 2017 for R100 000 to Nathan Kotzen.

In doing so, Ms Mlonzi become the first black lady to do so in the history of the National Yearling Sale. Master Keys won impressively on debut yesterday at Scottsville. Its never an easy task to breed a winner, let alone the first runner and a winner to boot! [read NYS story at the follow link]

Nothemba retained a share in the well-bred filly along with Alderman R F Haswell, Mr Steven Chetty and the P D T Racing Syndicate (Nom: Mr Trevor Naicker).

Master Keys gave an impressive performance to fly through and win on debut by by almost two lengths – showing a powerful finish that indicates much more to come from the classy filly.

Out of On A Wing by Tiger Ridge, this filly who is a second foal, shares a damline with the incredible international champion Able Friend – a winner of five international Gr1’s.

Able Friend also was the Head of 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 and had 13 wins in total.

Another horse bred by Ms Mlonzi of Mwetwood Stud was Galaxy Tunes, who finished five lengths off on debut yesterday at Scottsville for trainer Mark Dixon.

The 2yo Toreador gelding is a full brother to winner Cumulus (trained by Nathan Kotzen) remembered for his courageous Johannesburg run where he finished second behind Mike De Kock’s imported Mujaafy – the latter who has since accounted for the likes of Search Party, Attenborough, Talktothestars and Brutal Force at Kenilworth.

Cumulus has won and placed four times from six starts.

They are both out of Celestial Cloud by Invincible Spirit – Celestial Cloud is a half-sister to Patchit Up Baby, and this is the immediate family of sire Qui Danzig.

Congratulations to Nothemba Mlonzi on an outstanding achievement, and may there be many more to come in the future!

Former Mike de Kock assistant Nathan Kotzen finally broke the ice in his new role as trainer for his own account when the Toreador colt Cumulus won the third race at Scottsville on Sunday.

A relieved looking ‘Natie’ said that the 3yo colt had shown some good work at home, but was surprised to see him win first up, as he said it was difficult to know what they will do at races. He was easy to back, despite the services of Anthony Delpech, and ran on well to win the 1200m Maiden Plate.

Owner Alderman Rob Haswell, former Municipal Manager of Msundizi Municipality, was away in the USA visiting family, but breeder Anton Procter was on hand to lead the colt in.

The colt is impeccably bred by Anton Procter, out of an Invincible Spirit mare Celestial Cloud – who happens to be a half-sister to multiple Graded Stakes placed Ideal World filly, Patchit Up Baby. The dam of Celestial Cloud and Patchit Up Baby is Qui Liz – a half-sister to successful stallion import Qui Danzig.

Anton Procter has had great success with Toreador, breeding the likes of Hong Kong export Misty Birnam and Trading Profit amongst others.

Mwetwood Stud, owned by Ms Nothemba Malonzi, sold a full brother this year to Cumulus for just R50 000 at the 2017 KZN Yearling Sale. As luck would have it, Nathan Kotzen purchased Ms Malonzi’s first yearling to be sold in South Africa by a black female at Nationals in April.

Nathan Kotzen was assistant trainer to Mike de Kock at Summerveld for 16 years, but went on his own earlier this year after the champion trainer made a business move to close his satellite yard down.

At the time De Kock commented:  “Nathan has worked with some of the best horses in the world, let alone the country.  He’s a top horseman in his own right, he has the credentials and is well placed to make his mark. He won’t start off without support, I have left a few of my own horses with him and so has the Slack family. We wish him all the best in his new career.”

Kotzen has been  closely involved with the likes of champions Ipi Tombe, Grey’s Inn, Irish Flame, Bold Silvano, Victory Moon, Kildonan and Flight Alert.

Kotzen hails from a family steeped in racing.  His Dad, also Natie, was a jockey, his late brother Grant was a jockey, his borther Glen is a top trainer and another brother Darren is a farrier.

Nathan has also worked for David Payne, Pat Shaw and Pat Lunn and is on record as saying his most memorable day was when Grey’s Inn won the 2004 Vodacom Durban July.

Congratulations to Nathan Kotzen!

– extract sportingpost.co.za