We have had 9 wins for the season and 22 places, earning nearly R800 000 in stakes. Noble Tune has produced 8 winners for the season so far, with a decent stakes of R682 000 for the connections of his progeny.

Noble Tune was very well supported in his first few seasons at stud with full books each year, and the stats show that he has only had 34 of his progeny on the tracks to date and 11 of them are winners, giving Noble Tune a lifetime winners to runners percentage of 32%.

Paths Of Victory is now a 2-time winner, whilst White Lightning, injured in the Gr2 Dingaans after being cut into, is Stakes Placed and Play Another Tune placed 4th in a Gr1 during Champions Season.

The best from Noble Tune have yet to see a racetrack and we are very keen to watch their progress and encouraged on reports from leading trainers who have them in their yards – there is going to be much more to come from this young stallion in the future.

Linngari continues to produce the results, with his overseas stats reflecting in his local runners – currently Linngari boasts a South African winners to runners percentage of 66.7% – from just three of his first local runners, 2 have won and five places achieved between them – with average earnings per runner at an excellent R55 000.

Since 1 December, Linngari has had two winners and 7 places, four of those in second place!

His latest Stakes result came from Love And Peace (FR), who finished second in the Prix Petite Etoile Listed at Deauville over 1900m.

We have a very exciting line-up for the National in 2019, including progeny of Noble Tune (and a half-brother to Gr1 winner Lady In Black), Dynasty and Frankel amongst others from some of South Africa’s leading broodmare prospects. Inspections will be taking place in early January.

-rathmorstud.co.za

The Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Bloodstock South Africa held a seminar for the KZN Breeders Club recently to discuss the scoring of mares for the National Yearling Sale.

A number of examples of mares currently at stud were given of both suitable and unsuitable prospects, and how the panel chose the pedigrees and scored accordingly. Amongst them, Jehan Malherbe gave Sahara a 4, the dam of Matador Man recently sold to Gary and Colleen De Klerk of Summerview Stud (scores are from 1-5).

Jehan advised breeders to be mindful and use the scoring as a guideline, drawing comparisons to lesser bred fillies with better race records, and better bred fillies with perhaps not as inform race records, but well related – breeders must take into account what they have produced, and how many foals produced to date in relation to their success at stud.

Jehan also covered the various strengths of mare’s catalogue pages, who had progeny racing in overseas jurisdictions such as Kenya, Mauritius, Singapore, Hong Kong and Zimbabwe, and why some information couldnt be shown due to racing standards – such as Kenya.

“Singapore and Hong Kong will count. An example is the Hong Kong Gr1 race that Singapore Sling won – its an International Listed race, but a Gr1 in Hong Kong. The QE II on the other hand, Champions Mile and Champions Cup are proper international Gr1’s from Hong Kong. The rest are considered to be Listed races from an international standard. In the catalogue we would show either as a Listed race, or “HK-Gr1″. Kenya dont have Black Type races at all. We have to conform to international cataloguing standards and we have international buyers attending our sales. We can mention at special request to add in if a horse won the Kenyan Oaks, but it will not be in Black Type.”

“If you have to look up to the third dam to find quality, it is not Nationals quality. A mare who scores 1.5 is not Nationals quality and will be excluded, however, if you have a mare that is a 1.5 and a colt that is 9 from a very good  Top 5 stallion, we will review it.” It was also important to review as a breeder, if the family in the first 3 dams has been successfully active in the past 10 years.

“When the entries arrive, we have 500 spots open and 350 horses score 15 points and above, and that is our cut off point – they will all be on the sale as they immediately qualify. From 13.5 to 14.5 will be considered and from there on, its by invitation only for the balance of the places available.” Jehan also gave examples of first season sires represented at the sales and the points allocated, and said the list of sires and their points will be available on the TBA website for breeders to view and plan ahead. All stallions start of on 2.5.

If he is a local Gr1 winner, he gets a 3. If he is an international Gr1 winner, he will get a 3.5. If he has an exceptional pedigree, he will get another half a point for pedigree. If you breed a mare that is a 4.5 to a stallion thats a 2.5, you will get on the sale. All first season sires are considered.

If you send a mare that is a 5 to a stallion who is a low score, and breeds a 9 yearling, it has to get on the sale as there is more than 14 points and it will be sold. Jehan also advised breeders not to send all mares to first season sires, as only 1 in 20 make it. He also advised to send mares to big sires to keep individual sales drafts balanced.

Jehan emphasised that breeders must not be scared to talk to the selectors – “we are not here to to fail or pass you, we are here to try and work together to put the right horses on the right sale. Listen to the selectors if they assess that a yearling will be better on a later sale.”

Chris Haynes and Jane Thomas of Bloodstock South Africa were on hand to discuss sales and yearling inspection and selection questions, whilst Catherine Hartley of the TBA also addressed all present and gave an update on the Studbook.

Thank you to the TBA and BSA for putting the seminar together, and to Jehan Malherbe for making the trip to address the KZN Breeders Club which is really appreciated.

KZN farms Summerview Stud and The Fort will both be represented by a single lot at next week’s Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale.

Summerview Stud will be offering a standout daughter (Lot 425) of triple G1 winning Equus Champion Elusive Fort. The latter is an excellent filly sire, with his daughters including G1 winners Siren’s Call and Lauderdale, as well as current smart performers Elusive Heart and Secret Potion.

The Summerview filly, named No Money Honey, is out of a winning Trippi daughter of Melting Moments. The latter is a nine time stakes winning daughter of champion sire and emerging broodmare sire Captain Al who is a ¾ sister to Irridescence Stakes winner Leeward.

No Money Honey is from an excellent family, with her relatives including the standout sprint stars Fov’s Favourite and Shea Shea, among many others.

The Fort is also represented by a quality yearling at the 2018 National Sale.

Their sole lot is Top Line (Lot 444), a colt by proven G1 sire Toreador. The latter’s numerous high class performers include champion Link Man, dual G1 winner Bull Valley, exported G1 performer Misty Birnam and current top galloper Matador Man.

Top Line, a half-brother to a winner, is out of a winning Jet Master half-sister to Politician Stakes winner Robinson Crusoe and his third dam is the G1 winning Dancing Champ mare Cool Success.

This is the same family as champion Argonaut and current high class stakes winner Sir David Baird –to name but two.

The 2018 National Sale is set to get underway at the TBA complex on April 24^th, with trading due to commence at 11:30 am.

G1 WINNERS SIBLINGS HIGHLIGHT SCOTT BROS NATIONAL DRAFT

The Scott Bros’ Highdown Stud will be represented by a 13 strong draft at next week’s Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale. Perennially among the country’s leading breeders, the Scott Bros have produced a long string of champions over the years.

Among the current high class performers representing the Scott Bros is the Sean Tarry trained Matador Man.
The gelded son of Toreador, and winner of the 2017 KZN Breeders Million Mile, recently downed a high-class field to win a progress plate over 1600m at Turffontein. Matador Man, who also finished third in the 2017 G1 Champions Cup, has already banked over R1 000 000 in prize money –with the promise of more to come!

The KZN farm’s draft will include yearlings by such notable G1 winners as Crusade, Kingsbarns and Linngari, as well as their successful resident stallion Mogok.

Dune Dance (Lot 23) is the name of the Crusade half-sister to the above mentioned Matador Man. This filly, inbred to Storm Cat, is out of Mogok’s KZN Fillies Guineas runner up Sahara.

Crusade has a very strong line-up in the Scott Bros’ draft. Other interesting lots by the former G1 Middle Park Stakes winner include the filly whose dam is a half-sister to stakes winner Star Watch (Lot 234), the half-brother to smart G3 filly African Dream (Lot 241), the colt from the same family as William Longsword and Victory Moon (Lot 320), and the half-sister to dual G3 Spring Spree Stakes second Angel Power (Lot 346).

The regally bred Crusade, whose early runners include the talented filly Covered In Snow, is also sire of Matoaka (Lot 365). This filly is out of a full-sister to Equus Champion and promising young stallion The Apache, whose wins included the G1 Daily News 2000 and G1 Champions Cup.

Storm Cat son Mogok, whose best include champions The Apache and Wild One, is sire of Save The Species (Lot 143). This bay colt is a full-brother to 3 winners, notably G1 Gold Cup winning champion Wild One, and half-brother to G1 sprinter Extinct.

Mogok is also sire of Silver Stone (Lot 341), a half-brother to 4 winners including stakes performer Lady Carina, and Land Of Rubies (Lot 478). The latter is a half or full sister to 3 winners and she is out of a stakes placed daughter of outstanding broodmare sire Royal Academy.

Galileo’s G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Kingsbarns has a first South African crop colt (Lot 261) whose dam is a sister in blood to Cape Guineas second White River, while multiple G1 winner Linngari has a colt out of Brazilian G2 performer (Lot 383).

Regally bred resident sire Eightfold Path (whose champion sire Giant’s Causeway recently died) has two in the draft. They include On The Bayou (Lot 363) –a half-brother to 7 winners including G1 Champions Cup winner Orbison, and Meadow Music (Lot 483). The latter is a half-brother to seven winners, headed by G2 Emerald Cup winner Meadow Magic, and this is the same family as Horse Of The Year Irish Flame.

Bush Hill Stud staff will be making history at the Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, when they will be selling their first horse on auction, a handsome grey colt by Judpot.
Warwick and Karin Render of Mooi River, KZN purchased Lot 336, named One Kiss, as a weanling and donated him to their staff at Bush Hill to prepare for the yearling sale. Although this is a private initiative by the farm, it is part of a greater drive by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of SA, to encourage transformation at all levels within the stud farm industry. “This gives our staff equity in the business and a tangible stake in the results from a sale”, says Warwick.
Preparing yearlings for auction sales is a very hands-on, intensive process, as the young horses require a lot of attention, grooming and handling so that they are well-presented and perfectly turned out. The stud grooms are the front line in raising and handling these young Thoroughbreds and are usually the first to spot any problems or injuries that may occur.

“Our staff work incredibly hard, year-round, but particularly in the run up to a sale when day to day running of the stud farm must continue but getting our yearlings ready to show them at their best, becomes a priority.

Giving our team their own horse means that they too have a vested interest in the preparation and outcomes, rather than just being participants. They get to experience the real results of buying and selling yearlings and we hope that the upside to this endeavour is that they will have equity to further invest in bloodstock, and will have learnt more about how the business works”, emphasises Warwick.
Catherine Hartley, CEO of the TBA added: “These initiatives driven by the stud farms are vital to the ongoing success of our industry and our transformation goals. We are also on a continued drive to upskill staff and formalise accredited training across our breeding industry. As the association, we encourage the stud farms to participate, offering their staff a chance to gain knowledge and qualifications, especially since many are situated in rural areas with limited access to further education.
As an add-on the training, a grooms’ co-operative scheme was introduced for staff who have successfully passed the first three training modules. These co-ops apply for funding through the DTI and Small Business Development in order to pursue their own business endeavours such as buying weanlings to sell as yearlings or mares to produce their own foals. Mentorship and guidance is provided by the industry but the long-term objective is to enable our stud staff to be more fully vested in the industry and the outcomes.”
Look out for the grey Lot 336 at the Emperor’s Palace National Yearling Sale where he will be in the ring on day two of the sale, Wednesday the 25th of April.
The colt is out of Caesour mare Akississtillakiss, from the incredible dam-line of At The Savoy, Horatio, Harry Hotspur and Gang Related, as well as Mason Dixon and Kiss Me Quick.

-www.tba.co.za

The ‘KZN-breds’ registered with the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme for the upcoming National Yearling Sale QUALIFY for:

– The KZN Breeders Million Mile, a race for horses three years old and up run on the KZN Breeders Race Day with an appropriate Merit Rating.

– ‘KZN-breds’ also qualify for eight increased Stakes races, known as the KZN Breeders Series for R200 000 each, to be run on the annual KZN Breeders Race Day over 1200m, 1600m and 1900m.

– Two of the KZN Breeders Series races are for ‘KZN-bred’ Juvenile colts and fillies.

– The ‘KZN-bred’ that wins the KZN Yearling Sale Million run on Vodacom Durban July day will be rewarded  with a value added bonus of R200 000

– Easily identifiable with ‘#kznbred’ hip stickers and stable door posters at sales

St Helier Stud has a successful day with two Lots sold – the first an outstanding What A Winter colt for R375 000 and a Fort Wood colt out of a Cape Cross mare, from the damline of Gr1 winner Britannia’s Rule for R300 000.

The What A Winter colt, the leading KZN colt of the day is out a National Emblem mare Sierra Lily, from the damline of Villandry, Geordoba, Ravishing and Dynastic Power.

He sold to Dynamic Syndications.

The Fort Wood colt, an outstanding classic type of horse sold to Park Bloodstock.

The dam Velvet Mover has produced a winner from her first foal, and the Fort Wood named Lloyd George is her first produce.

Piemonte Stud sold a magnificent son of Noble Tune for R350 000 to Team G Racing.

The colt was frequently seen out in the sales yard for inspections and bidding was active for the flashy and imposing grandson of Unbridled’s Song, out of an imported mare from the immediate damline of Lanner Falcon.

Piemonte also sold the top priced KZN filly of the day, with Lot 203 Crusade filly purchased by Garth Puller for R220 000.

The filly is the second produce for the young mare Sully’s Landing – her first foal has recently achieved Black Type early in her juvenile career after finishing 2nd in a Gr3 very recently and looks an exciting prospect.

Piemonte Stud have brought a high quality draft of yearlings and their early success isnt a surprise with the careful selection of pedigrees – they have already produced the likes of Eastern Cape Champion Kalamain, Gr3 winner O Tamara and Gr3 placed Celestina, with Lee’s Pick also an exciting prospect.

Rathmor continue their top sales form, with Noble Tune colt Paths Of Victory sold for R220 000 to Gavin Van Zyl, and colt out of Dynasty mare Summer To Remember going for R180 000, for Harold Crawford.

Scott Bros sold their magnificent Mogok colt out of Jet Master mare, We Have Lift Off, to Lynton Ryan for R280 000.

Spring Valley, who are currently in the mid-forty percent for winners to runners on the national NHRA log, sold a lovely Visionaire colt to Dean Kannemeyer racing for R150 000. This is the damline of Bold Ellinore and Emperor Napolean.

Well done to all concerned.