Mike McHardy’s Rathmor Stud is in sizzling form, one of the leading KZN-based farms currently on the national log sporting a winners to runners percentage of 39.1%, with Average Earnings Per Runner of R37,977 and season earnings of just over R1,7-million.

Producing winners weekly around the country and in particular for owner Mr Mario Ferreira, their pairing and vision to acquire well bred mares has paid off over the past few years, and seen the likes of Group winners such as Mississippi Burning (Gr1) and Nexus (Gr2) as well as Copper Mountain and Hasta Manana come through the ranks.

They enjoyed three winners in four days – two coming from KZN with newly licensed trainer Lorenzo Karriem (who recently enjoyed his first double), and Mogok colt Ntabazondi breaking his maiden in the care of Gavin Van Zyl in Johannesburg.

The McHardy’s stand a son of War Front, a half-brother to Gr1 winner Honor Code and Gr2 winner Noble Tune, Declarationofpeace covering his first book of mares in 2021 and receiving a full book.

They also stand Linngari, a stallion whose progeny are a pleasure to own with regular visits to the winners enclosure – 9 wins from 20 runners and 36 places to date.

The Adam Marcus trained Mississippi Burning arrived in KZN last week, and has settled in beautifully.

The Rathmor-bred Captain Al filly, born and raised in Nottingham Road sold for R380 000 at the National Yearling Sale to Mario Ferreira. She is out of a Husonnet mare Spitfire Lady, who was sourced in Australia for Rathmor Stud with the purpose of sending her to their then resident sire Noble Tune.

Spitfire Lady arrived from quarantine in the Cape and the decision was made to cover her to a Cape sire and then send her up to KZN. Mike McHardy described Spitfire Lady as not the biggest but a quality mare at the time. Her first foal was Mississippi Burning – herself not the tallest but beautifully conformed and standing over ground – and she’s a daughter of the mighty Captain Al.

The next successful covering to Noble Tune produced Fire And Ice – a lovely colt, who was knocked down for R50 000 to Willson Coates and sent to Barend Botes to train.

Juvnile Fire And Ice has won his last two starts at the Vaal from six runs and placed 4 times.

Mississippi Burning gave young Adam Marcus his first Gr1 win when she took the Fillies Guineas, ridden by Craig Zackey.

Pending the outcome of the lockdown time to eradicate the Coronavirus that has hit South Africa, Mississippi Burning will be a feature of the KZN Champions Season.

The KZN Breeders Club held their Annual General Meeting on Tuesday.

Mike McHardy of Rathmor / Macrath Stud and Peter Blyth of Clifton Stud were appointed as Directors of the KZN Breeders Club board.

A breeder of local and international Gr1 winners such as Gypsy’s Warning and more recently Mississippi Burning, Mike brings a wealth of experience with him and has served on the Board previously. He stands a mixture of Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds, of which they have reached enormous heights and success in both sports, with almost 200 horses on the farm in Nottingham Road.

Peter Blyth of Clifton Stud has bred his fair share of Graded Stakes winners, including Durban July winner Classic Flag, and more recently the likes of Montreal Mist, Prince Of Kahal and Gr1 placed Marygold. Farming in Rosetta, he stands Mambo In Seattle and has experience in all sectors of the Thoroughbred industry, including being a trainer and brings a fresh perspective to the table.

Current Chairman Ted Hughes thanked his current Board for their work over the past year and welcomed Mike McHardy and Peter Blyth onto the board.

The current Board is Chairman Ted Hughes, Vice Chairman Bruce Le Roux, Cathy Martin, Koos De Klerk, Warwick Render, Mick Goss, Peter Blyth and Mike McHardy.

Ted welcomed new members to the club for the past year – Rosanne Labuschagne, Andre Fouche, Brian Burnard and Geoff Perkins.

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.