Rathmor Stud, whose current flagbearers include this season’s G2 Ridgemont Highlands Peninsula Handicap winner Nexus, will be offering another stellar draft at the 2023 KZN Yearling Sale.

Not only does this string include yearlings by such popular and promising stallions as Erupt, Soqrat and William Longsword, it also includes thoroughbreds from some truly exceptional female lines.

One such example is the Captain Of All (Lot 18) half-brother to recent two-year-old winner Dolcezza, with this colt’s third dam, Ontario Colleen Stakes winner Ruby Ransom, a half-sister to champion and G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Chief Bearhart as well as to G1 Hollywood Derby winner Explosive Red.

Captain Of All has another exceptionally well related yearling on sale in the form of the colt (Lot 98) out of the useful performer Clifton Sunset. The latter, in turn, was produced by a half-sister to a trio of graded stakes winners in North America, including subsequent successful South African sire Philanthropist and this is also the family of Breeders’ Cup winning champion Inside Information among many others.

Champion Soqrat made a big impression with his first yearlings at this year’s National Sale, and that triple G1 winner is represented here by a colt whose granddam is a dual stakes winning full-sister to none other than former South African Horse Of The Year Irish Flame.

However, perhaps the star in this draft is the William Longsword half-brother (Lot 59) to rising star Royal Aussie, with that three-year-old having already earned more than R5 million in prize money, and a hugely exciting prospect for next season. The colt in question, who hails from the immediate family of Australian legend Might And Power among many others, is out of a half-sister to dual Australian group winner and sire Time For War, and he sports a real stallion’s pedigree!

This string can be found in Block C at the Suncoast Casino in Durban.

KZN Breeders enjoyed a very successful sale at Nationals, which achieved outstanding results in a tumultous current economy.

Bloodstock South Africa hailed the sale a “resounding triumph.”

“An outstanding catalogue and some spirited bidding saw the 2023 National Yearling Sale come to a triumphant conclusion late on Saturday afternoon. The two day auction saw gains in aggregate, and average and median prices, while the clearance rate at the sale improved off results seen last year.”

“The sale’s aggregate rose by more than R16 million, with the 2023 National Sale’s gross aggregate reaching R153.8 million, while the average and median rose to R443 228 and R300 000 respectively. The average rose from R357 454 a year ago, while the median price increased from R250 000 from 2022.”

Rathmor Stud took the leading accolades for the top priced colt of KZN, with a smashing colt by Danon Platina knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R725 000.

The colts groom, Zakhele Biyase, echoed the sentiments of the fantastic price and showed his jubilation as he lead the colt out of the ring with a big smile and a fist in the air!

Sold as Lot 325 and out of the beautifully bred Jane S Piddy, this is the family of Nexus, Lady In Black, Lizarre and The Merry Widow. Rathmor’s acquisition of mares from leading families is paying off, and they brought four quality yearlings to the sale to average an impressive R537 500 for each of them – snapped up by the likes of Glen Kotzen, Form Bloodstock, Hollywood Syndicate and Greg Bortz. The balance of the yearlings sold included a Vercingetorix sibling to Gr1 winner Missisippi Burning and Black Type, Mercury Rising.

Tinus Gericke and Bruce Le Roux’s Blue Sky Thoroughbreds brought a draft that they described as “having something for everyone” – and their impressive sales topper for R700 000 was a magnificent flashy bay colt by Gimmethegreenlight out of Kahal mare, Kahula.

After enthusiastic bidding, he was knocked down to the IRC & Krishnan Nagendran. A second produce for the 5-time winning mare, this is a family that has excelled for Bruce Le Roux’s previous Spring Valley farm in the form of Count The Money and Buy And Sell, as well as Bedloe’s Island. Blue Sky sold 14 yearlings for an impressive average of R280 357 each. Blue Sky consistently bring a well made yearling to the sales each year and its paying off in the sales ring and winners box.

Their draft presented on behalf of Agents yielded seven sold for clients for an average of R185 000. Many of them were by two year sire sensation New Predator, which saw 9 sold under the Blue Sky banner for an average of R216 667 each.

Others sold by Blue Sky sires included one by Willow Magic for R170 000, and the other by Hat Puntano for R180 000.

Peter and Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud brought another fantastic draft to Germiston; all well grown and well related yearlings who consistently earn their owners cheques and accumulate black type, their top price was for a colt named Hair Trigger, by in form sire Fire Away out of Aziza, sold to Peter Moor for R600 000. Clifton sold the highest priced #kznbred filly of the sale – the workmanlike Mai Sensation – a daughter of Rafeef out of Mai Tai by Vercingetorix. She sold for R500 000 to Greg Bortz.

Clifton achieved an average of R336 429 for seven yearlings sold.

Brett Van Laun of Camargue Stud debuted his Caversham-based farm at Nationals this year, and paid off with a smashing What A Winter colt out of Magic Penny knocked down to Greg Bortz for R600 000. The colts full sister to Black Type and 4-time winner Pretty Penny, whilst the second dam is Lady Lexington.

Brett also sold a super Querari colt, a three parts brother to Gr2 winner Ameena for R300 000 to Alyson Wright, and a beautiful sibling to American Grafitti for R250 000, snapped up by Corne Spies. Whilst it can take a while for new farms to establish themselves in the market, Camargue impressed with eight lots selling for R245 625 each.

Colleen and Gary De Klerk’s draft saw their New Predator out of Lady Carter sell for R180 000; they unfortunately had to withdraw their smashing Lancaster Bomber filly from the Nationals, but keep a look out in the catalogues later this year for Miss Munroe – her fourth dam is Imperious Sue and this is the family of Victory Moon.

Summerhill Equestrian and Gr1 producing sire Act Of War saw four lots sold for an average of R295 000 each. The top priced Act Of War, a colt from Clifton Stud named Peace Treaty, sold for R375 000 to Sean Tarry. This quality colt out of a Gimmethegreenlight mare hails from the Varsfontein family of Kochka, Kissable, Dash For Gretna and Moneycantbuymelove.

Well done to the KZN Breeders and thank you to the buyers and underbidders for their appreciated support!

The smartly bred son of Noble Tune followed through on his good form to impress at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on the weekend.

The win was part of a double for owner and KZN Breeder, Rose Waterman-Wentzel of Twilight Moon Equine on the day, and also enjoyed a second place.

All three horses for Waterman Wentzel of War Athena fame were pretrained at Brett Van Laun’s Camargue Stud, who reports that their last five runners pretrained from Camargue have won three races, and placed second and fourth!

Noble City, trained by Peter Muscutt is a half brother to Gr1 winner Battle Force, also owned by the Waterman-Wentzel family. Bred by Rupert Plersch, he broke his maiden at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth as part of Muscutt’s Cape raiding string by three lengths, ridden by Richard Fourie. He followed up with a third after that, finishing just two lengths off, however Richard Fourie admitted that he had waited too long on the gelding in the race and he could have won it and thanked the Peter Muscutt for giving him the chance to ride the horse again at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

It was Noble City’s first start in KZN.

It is interesting to note that Varsfontein Stud purchased the Linngari half sister to Noble City and Battle Force for just R70 000 at the November 2YO Sale. It is a strong Black Type European family, and the French-bred dam Mataaib is by Elusive City out of a Dehere mare.

Noble Tune, the sire of a Gold Cup winner passed away, however his half brother by War Front has covered full books since his arrival in South Africa at Rathmor Stud. The first yearlings by Declarationofpeace will be on offer next year, and already War Front is proving a sensation in South Africa with the likes of Fire Away and the deceased Lancaster Bomber.

Mataaib visited Vercingetorix in 2023.

In a foaling record for the farm in one day, five mares welcomed five fillies at `Macrath Stud for Rathmor Stud on Thursday.

Mystery Dame (Jet Master), the dam of Gr1 winner Lady In Black and Gr2 winner and KZN Mile winner Nexus, produced a filly by Declarationofpeace.

Others to foal included Fiftyshadesdarker (Gimmethegreenlight), a full sister to Gr1 winner Gunnar, by Declarationofpeace as well as Clarion Call (Kabool) – the dam of Hollywood Syndicate’s multiple winning full siblings Spyda’s Corner and Purple Powahouse.

Last but not least were Seeking Venus (Trippi) and the last Noble Tune foal to be born came from Spice Girl (Var).

Declarationofpeace (War Front) covered a full book last season and has once again received maximum support for the current season.

He stands for a fee of R20 000 live foal. He won three times including the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (L).

Justin Snaith-trained Nexus under a masterful return ride from Piere Strydom, won the KZN Mile on Sunday afternoon in front of a sizeable crowd, just the week before the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Rathmor Stud made it back to back wins in the race, winning with Copper Mountain (Noble Tune) in 2021, and not only bred Nexus but also raised Battle Force for breeder Mr Rupert Plersch.

The beautifully bred Nexus, by Dynasty out of Mystery Dame by Jet Master, is a Gr2 winner and a full brother to Gr1 winner Lady In Black.

Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Battle Force (Act Of War) flew up for second by three quarters of a length in the familiar pink and black stars also associated with War Of Athena, with the grey Willow Express finishing in third for Sean Tarry.

It was the first return ride from Strydom, who has just 10 wins to go to reach 5500 lifetime winners.

Merit Rated 107, Nexus sold for R1,7-million to John Freeman as a yearling at the 2017 Nationals, originally named Identity Thief. He has won eight races with nine places from 29 starts for stakes of R1 059 225, owned by Mrs Nancy Hossack, the daughter of the Late Jack Mitchell who enjoyed much success in the white colours with black dots, including that of #kznbred Futura as well as Nexus’ full sister, Gr1 winner Lady In Black.

Bruce Le Roux and Clifton Stud enjoyed much success on the day. Bruce, with one horse in his name and one in partnership with Blue Sky Thoroughbreds also birthed and raised the first winner of the day, for trainer Michael Roberts with the speedy Russian Doll. Clifton enjoyed a double with Proud Master and Prince Of Taranto – and in addition, finished 1-2 in their own sponsored race, the Clifton Stud Kwazulu Natal Breeders 1200 with Proud Master and the striking Sikhulu.

Rathmor enjoyed a double – taking the KZN Breeders Mile and winning their sponsored race in the eighth named for War Front sire Declarationofpeace. Crazy Blues won smartly under Muzi Yeni for trainer Lorenzo Karrie and owner Mario Ferreira.

Tony Rivalland enjoyed a double with Blue Sky Thoroughbreds Mr Henley and Clifton bred Prince Of Taranto, with the partners of the two syndicates in particular – Mr Robert Maingard and Patrick Rivalland – notching up a double on the day.

It was a festive day both in the Durban View which hosted the breeders, owners and trainers of runners on the day, whilst the course was abuzz with a significant crowd enjoying July fever leading up to the big day next week.

Congratulations to todays winners and thank you to the sponsors who assisted in making this wonderful meeting possible!

Summerhill, Rathmor and Blue Sky Thoroughbreds have invested in the top three sellers of the Cape Mare Sale which took place on Thursday.

Mick Goss’s Summerhill Stud has enjoyed a Gr1 winning season and he invested in a Shadwell mare Lot 5, Masaaquaat (NZ), daughter of speed sire Snitzel in foal to What A Winter. This is the family of co-Champion Australian 2yo colt Invader and was knocked down to Summerhill Stud for R260 000.

Rathmor followed suit with an impeccably bred daughter of Dynasty for R200 000. Out of a Jet Master mare in turn out of the brilliant mare Consensual, Lot 59 Jamaheery consigned by Sandown for Shadwell Stud, this is the female line of Attenborough, Al Sakeet, Just Sensual and Tatler. The Dynasty mare is in foal to dual Gr1 producing Rafeef.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds bought Dynamic Diana by Dynasty, for R155 000 in foal to One World. A full sister to multiple feature winner Sing Out Loud, this is the family of Gr1 Breeders Cup winner Magnificent Song.

Other KZN Breeders to invest were Summerview, purchasing a full sister to sire Jackson in foal to Master Of My Fate, and Camargue who bought 10-time winner Hurricane Katrina in foal to Querari.

Another mare with KZN roots was sold to Suzette Viljoen for R90 000 – an Australian bred daughter of Frankel out of #kznbred Gr1 winning daughter of Kahal, Chocolicious – bred by Backworth Stud. Mazaaher is in foal to Soqrat.

Breeders in KZN are using the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme to invest into bloodstock and improve the breed. The Scheme has been updated to operate in the form of a voucher system towards the purchase of mares, stallion shares and services – a tremendous advantage to breeders in challenging economic times and more reason to breed in KZN!

View the results at www.bsa.co.za.

A handsome grey colt by Danon Platina, bred by Rathmor Stud and consigned by Millstream Farm sold for R550 000 at the Cape Yearling Sale on Sunday.

Out of Approach Me by Right Approach, the colt was knocked down to Greg Bortz and will be trained by Justin Snaith.

The Snaith family trained third dam Joise De Grise, an Arcsa Champion 3yo Sprinter in her day. Approach Me is a 4-time winner and Listed Placed.

The first Bloodstock South Africa sale of the year gave a very positive start for the rest of the year, in currently not the best economical climate post Covid hard lockdowns, it was highly encouraging to see two horses topping the sale for R1-million each and we look forward to the Nationals in April.

Well done to all concerned.

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.

Noble Tune, who recently relocated to Camargue Stud, has passed away unexpectedly.

The sire of Gr3 Gold Cup winner Paths Of Victory was humanely euthanised on the operating table after vets did their best to assist the son of Unbridled’s Song.

Noble Tune with a purple pedigree, a Gr2 and Gr3 winner in America as well as finishing second in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile on Turf, is a half-brother to Gr1 winner and producer in America, Honor Code.

He also shares a dam with newly acquired Rathmor sire Declarationofpeace (War Front), standing at Rathmor Stud which was Noble Tune’s prior home.

Noble Tune, out of a Storm Cat mare from the female line of Serena’s Song, saw his best on the track with Gold Cup winner Paths Of Victory and Copper Mountain, second by half a length to Got The Greenlight in the H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1).

Noble Tune was the only son of Unbridled’s Song to stand at stud in South Africa.

The William Longsword gelding Hasta Manana clinched his first stakes success and was the cheese on the sandwich of a terrific Gareth van Zyl-Anton Marcus – Mario Ferreira treble at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, including two for Rathmor Stud.

Gareth van Zyl enjoyed one of his best days at the office and saddled a four-timer.

The R100 000 Listed Model Man Mile, named in honour of former SA Horse Of The Year and our first equine millionaire Model Man, saw an eleven strong field of 3yo’s face the starter.

Easy to back at 14-1 after taking six runs to crack his maiden, Hasta Manana showed resolve and some improved maturity to quicken readily and beat Purple Flame by 1,60 lengths in a time of 98,02 secs.

The previously unbeaten-in-two favourite Quasiforsure stayed on well without threatening for third.

“Things went his way. He had a good gate, a nice lead and he quickened,” said Ridgemont jockey Anton Marcus. The former champion was to ride six winners on a profitable weekend, after winning the last in the same silks for the same stable.

Bred by Rathmor Stud, Hasta Manana is a son of William Longsword (Captain Al) out of Ireland one-time winner Queen Of Spain (Holy Roman Emperor), herself immaculately bred and a half-sister to recently deceased sire, Mastercraftsman.

A winner of 2 races with 5 places from 8 starts for stakes of R184 500, Hasta Manana looks to be improving fast.

Rathmor ended the day with a smart performance from Twice Over gelding out of Azure Sky, with Double Edge giving owner Mario Ferreira his 3rd win on the day.

Rathmor Stud stand the smart new son of War Front, Declarationofpeace.

Well done to all concerned.