Noble Tune’s dual Gr1 winning half-brother Honor Code, from the last crop of the great AP Indy, has had his first foal born at Cobra Farm which Lane’s End announced early this morning. Honor Code’s service fee for 2016 and 2017 has been set at $40 000.

Honor Code’s quality book of 144 mares he covered in his first season included the likes of Lady Liberty – the dam of 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, Flock Of Doves – whose half-sister has produced sire Pathfork, as well as Night And Day – a three parts sister to Noble Tune and the dam of a Gr2 winner.

Noble Tune and Honor Code’s dam is Serena’s Cat, and with the outstanding Gr1 performances by her first two colts – her weanling progeny by America’s Champion sires have been snapped up for record figures at sales with the leading racing and breeding establishments, the world over, competing to secure the precious bloodlines.

Noble Tune is a phenomenal acquisition for breeders in South Africa, and the first son of Unbridled’s Song to go to stud on the African continent. Unbridled’s Song passed away three years ago, however his influence is still making the headlines with the likes of the blistering fast grey colt Arrogate and Liam’s Map previously amongst others, and his daughters surpassing a million US Dollars in foal frequently in the Keeneland Mare sales ring.

Just yesterday Siren Serenade sold for $1,025 000 in foal to Tapit, and in November 2016 an in foal Unrivaled Belle sold for $3,800 000.

However, whilst his sire Unbridled’s Song is a leading sire and broodmare sire in America, Noble Tune and Honor Code’s dam line is what excites breeders the world over and Noble Tune could hold his own at any leading breeding establishment in the world. Their third dam Serena’s Song was not only a champion race mare and multiple Gr1 winner in her day, but she has established a dynasty of her own with several champions yielded from her brilliance.

They include the likes of Gr1 Coronation Stakes winners Sophisticat and Rizeena, sires Grand Reward and Australian resident Puissance De Lune who had his first crop of foals born in 2016, Producer and Doubles Partner. Another colt and a Gr2 and Gr3 winner, Made You Look, is a son of More Than Ready is out of a three parts sister to Noble Tune named Night And Day.

A handsome dark bay that is truly breathtaking to behold in the flesh, Noble Tune is a true reflection of his blue blooded breeding with oodles of quality, a big cat like walk and a handsome head, a balanced horse with plenty of bone and substance and sporting a powerful hindquarter. A Gr2 and Gr3 winner in his native America, he also placed second in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile on Turf.

Noble Tune’s foals were everything to be expected and more, and his first yearlings will be offered at the National Yearling Sale in May 2017.

Rathmor Stud head hunted and acquired several choicely-bred and performed mares to bolster Noble Tune’s books during his first three seasons at stud, which saw him attract several mares from leading farms outside of KZN each season – a compliment in itself to his quality.

Amongst the yearlings being prepped for inspections and aimed at Nationals from Rathmor, are progeny out of mares Gr2 winner (and Gr1 placed) Hidden Beauty, Victory Garden (half-sister to International champions Imbongi and Mahubo and the dam of a winner from first foal), Approach Me (Stakes Placed 4-time winner), Summer Angel (dam of Graded Stakes winners Exit Here and Eventual Angel), Summer To Remember (half-sister to Royal Champ by Dynasty), Gr3 placed Awesome Beauty and Mia Joshua (Gr3 placed 4-time winner).

For more information contact Rathmor Stud on 033 266 6853 or email rathmor@bundunet.com.

Lane’s End, who are standing Noble Tune’s dual Gr1 winning half brother Honor Code at stud for his first season, have purchased Lot 538 from Denali Stud at the September Keeneland Yearling Sale.

The colt is by Speightstown out of a three part-sister to Noble Tune named Night And Day – she recently produced Gr2 With Anticipation winner, Made You Look (by More Than Ready), her first foal to race from two produced.

Speightstown is himself by Gone West out of a Storm Cat mare – Lot 538 is bred on similar lines to that of Noble Tune (out of Storm Cat mare Serena’s Cat), a cross that has produced the likes of American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Forever Unbridled, Bodemeister, Shared Belief, Carpe Diem and Close Hatches, to named but a few.

Night And Day is by Unbridled’s Song out of Serena’s Song – the sire of Noble Tune and his mighty third dam.

Another close relative on the sale is a filly as Lot 625, consigned by Hill ‘n Dale as agent. The filly by Violence (by Medaglia ‘d Ora out of  Gone West mare) out of the appropriately named Serena’s Sister by Rahy should attract significant attention at the sale, with Noble Tune’s dam line in demand the world over due to its significant multiple successes at the highest level the world over.

Rizeena is a dual Gr1 winner including the Coronation Cup in England, whilst Puissance De Lune has retired to stud in Australia and not forgetting Noble Tune’s great half-brother by AP Indy, Honor Code – named America’s  in 2015 after winning the Gr1 Whitney, Gr1 Metropolitan Stakes and finishing a courageous third to American Pharoah after coming from last, in the Breeders Cup Classic.

Noble Tune is covering his third season at Rathmor Stud and his second crop of outstanding foals are arriving on farms across KZN, once again showing their outstanding quality and size. Noble Tune’s book this year reflects his outstanding quality in every regard and has repeated the significant support received from outside of the province this year.  In 2015 Noble Tune received 22 mares from the likes of Klawervlei, Mauritzfontein, Gary Player, Lammerskraal and Ascot Stud.

Noble Tune as a racehorse placed second in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile on Turf, and won the Gr2 American Turf Stakes and Gr3 Pilgrim Stakes.  His weanling half-sister set a world record when she sold for $3million at Keeneland, and a year later their War Front half-brother sold for $2,6million to Coolmore.

Lynton Ryan had reiterated to the guests present at the Rathmor Stallion Day held in July, that “the cream” of the world’s Thoroughbred breeding establishments had all rallied to secure progeny from dam of Noble Tune and grand-daughter of the great Serena’s Song – including the likes of Lane’s End and Coolmore – to which Lynton added “Rathmor Stud is in good company!”

Contact Mike McHardy on 083 447 5315 for further information.

Rathmor’s exciting young stallion, billed as one of the best stallion prospects to ever come to South Africa was well represented at the Breeders Cup over the weekend, all with top results.

Beginning with Liam’s Map, who shares the same sire Unbridled’s Song as Noble Tune – winning the Gr1 Breeders Cup Dirt Mile, filly Wavell Avenue by Harlington (Unbridled – Serena’s Song) was victorious in the Gr1 Fillies And Mares Sprint, whilst Noble Tune’s half-brother Honor Code wasn’t disgraced to finish third behind the great American Pharoah in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Classic.

Both Liam’s Map and Honor Code will be welcomed at Lane’s End Farm on Sunday morning following the Breeders Cup, to retire to stud in Kentucky.

The Breeders Cup Classic field for a stake of $5million read like a World Championship, with the likes of Keen Ice, Tonalist, Frosted and Britain’s great Gleneagles all getting a run and finishing behind Honor Code,  who once again made up phenomenal ground after lying lengths off the rest of the field, coming from stone last to race past the bulk of the field and finish third.

Interestingly, American Pharoah is bred on the same pedigree cross as Noble Tune, with Unbridled on the male side and Storm Cat on the female, a cross once again that is showing its dominance in America and has produced the likes of Close Hatches, Bodemeister, Will Take Charge, Unbridled Forever and Rizeena – the latter a Gr1 Coronation Cup winner who also features in Noble Tune’s immaculate damline of Gr1 winners.

Canadian-bred filly Wavell Avenue is a daughter of Harlington, who entered stud in 2009 at Hill ‘n Dale Farm in Kentucky and has subsequently been sold to stand in Saudi Arabia.

He is a son of Unbridled (sire of Unbridled’s Song) out of the great Serena’s Song, the third dam of Noble Tune. Harlington was Unbridled’s most expensive yearling ever sold – for $2,8million, after a brilliant debut win he won six races, including the Gr2 Gulfstream Park where he beat Funny Cide.

The last best colt of the great stallion A.P. Indy, it was Honor Code’s final race before retiring to stud.

Owned in partnership by Dell Ridge and Lane’s End, the dual Gr1 winner of the Metropolitan Mile and the Whitney Stakes will be standing alongside the likes of Frankel’s full-brother Noble Mission, Lemon Drop Kid, Union Rags, Langfuhr, Candy Ride and Mineshaft. His service fee has yet to be announced.

Noble Tune is welcoming his first exciting crop of foals at Rathmor Stud this season, all displaying their sire’s quality, good size and great bone. Noble Tune has covered a full book of mares this season including some outstanding broodmares, both locally and countrywide.

His fee for the current breeding season is R25 000.