Twice Grade 1-winner Rabada was very well received by a packed Summerveld clubhouse in an unusual stallion day on Saturday for which he was transported down form his home at Wartburg’s Bloomhill Stud down to the KZN’s only major training centre.

The former Mike Azzie-trained Brave Tin Soldier stallion won the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes as a two-year-old and the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 as a three-year-old.

He is proving to be a fine stallion, despite the limited opportunities he has had, and last season had a 47.8% winners to runners strike rate with eleven winners of 14 races from 23 runners.

This compares to the national champion stallion Gimmethegreenlight’s percentage of 48.2% and although the latter obviously had a lot more runners he also enjoyed a lot more opportunities being an in demand Western Cape-based stallion.

Included among Rabada’s runners is the like of the promising MJ Odendaal-trained gelding Addabar, the Doug Campbell-trained gelding Ermelo and the Weiho Marwing-trained filly Soldier’s Eye.

Addabar, now a four-year-old, has been the subject of a big offer from overseas after cruising to a comfortable win over 1800m last time, meaning he has won all three of his races contested over distances of a mile and beyond in impressive style.

Mohammed Sheik has been brokering a deal between the interested parties in Bahrain, but it will not be easy to complete with the export protocols as they are and also with the timelines in place for travel and the accompanying red tape involved.

He is also the ideal horse to promote the up-and-coming Odendaal stable and if he does not go overseas MJ plans to target him at the next SA Champions Season. As a horse he does not need to rush, he aims to get him there with a competitive merit rating.

In a twist to the stallion day, MJ rode Addabar to the clubhouse grass and he was also paraded.

Ermelo, now a three-year-old, is a big, long-striding individual who has won two out of four starts and he finished a fine 3,25 length third in his last start over 1400m in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes to the talented Mike de Kock-trained Gimmethegreenlight colt Gimmeanotherchance. 

He is merit rated 96.

The Weiho Marwing-trained filly Soldier’s Eye is merit rated 97 having won two races before finishing fifth in the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in the last race of her two-year-old campaign.

That high merit rating did not stop her running a close second in a fillies and mares handicap over 1750m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in her first start as a three-year-old.

Sandra Tretheway of Bloomhill Stud said there had been an excellent turn out on Saturday by a mixture of breeders, owners and trainers to see Rabada in the flesh and there had even been the like of farriers and veterinarians in attendance.

The Summerveld clubhouse was packed.

Onlookers were very impressed by Rabada’s excellent temperament.

He handled the one-and-a-half hour wait to be paraded perfectly calmly and behaved himself impeccably while being shown.

He had to parade in front of 65 onlookers and he also stood perfectly still for photographs.

It was important to show prospective breeders, owners and trainers Rabada’s “most magnificent temperament”, because Brave Tin Soldier’s progeny can sometimes be up tight.

The stallion day has led to more business for Rabada and since Saturday and yesterday he had already gained an extra ten mares.

Tretheway said about the day, “It was fantastic. He was well received and it was a positive, good event for our industry which needs positive vibes.”

There have also been clients who could not make it to the stallion day who have visited the stallion at the farm instead.

There has also been interest from the Cape.

Rabada stands for R10,000 payable on a live foal, but as an incentive Bloomhill Stud have given a special incentive offer in which a breeder sending two mares will get one cover free of charge.

Another incentive for the resulting Rabada crop of this season’s coverings is that the first one of them to win a Gr 1 in KZN will earn a R50,000 bonus for the owners.

Tretheway said these incentives confirmed Bloomhill Stud’s belief in Rabada as a stallion and their commitment to both him and to the horseracing industry.

Bloomhill Stud is one of the newest thoroughbred breeders on the block.

Sandra has always loved horses and the family farm just outside of Wartburg has always had a riding horse or two for their use.

Hence she travelled to the Summerhill dispersal sale a few years ago intending to buy one or two riding horses.

Instead she returned with a number of broodmares.

She has been advised on breeding by Mick Goss, the owner of the multiple champion breeders Summerhill Stud.

Sandra concluded, “Rabada is going to be one of the commercial stallions and he just needs the support. I said to the people on Saturday, ‘With the stats he has got, which is not an emotional thing, can you afford to ignore him.’”

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Images: Candiese Lenferna

Former Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes and Gr 1 Daily News 2000 winner Rabada was left out of the annual Sires Catalogue and therefore he will be transported down to Summerveld on 16 September for a “Stallion Day”.

Sandra Tretheway of Bloomhill Stud in Wartburg said, “We’re going to bring him down to the people and we’re inviting all the owners, trainers and breeders just so they can see him in the flesh because obviously his progeny are doing so well at the moment. It’s something a bit unconventional but we need to do it because when buyers see his progeny at the sales they can say, ‘We’ve seen the stallion and he’s actually magnificent.'”

An incentive will be announced at the stallion day.

She continued, “We’ve had some nice support for him recently but not enough. We’re sitting on about 12 mares and I would like to get it up to 20 or 30, so it will take some serious marketing on our part after he was left out of the Sires Catalogue.”

She added, “He’s looking magnificent and has covered three already.”

Unfortunately the dam of one of his recent success stories, Addabar, is deceased. However, they are hopeful he could still get the dam of his Listed Gatecrasher Stakes third-placed Ermelo.

Rabada has some quality mares booked to him.

They include the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes runner up Me Time (Gimmethegreenlight), who is due a foal to him and will be covered again; he has just covered Strelitzia Stakes winner Elegant Blush, who is also dam of two stakes-placed horses; he will be covering Mary Liley’s three-time winner Noodle.

Bloomhill have 14 mares of which six are so far booked to Rabada, while five are going to the Cape to be covered by respectively all of Jet Dark (who is part-owned by Tommy Crowe, who owns the dam of Ermelo), Rafeef and What A Winter.

One of Mick Goss’s mares on the farm is going to Danon Platina.

Meanwhile, the Doug Campbell-trained Ermelo has Cape Town aspirations. The big rangy type unfortunately burst through the starting stalls in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes at the end of last season and had to be scratched. He knocked himself slightly during that incident but Doug is targeting him at the Non-Black type Model Man Mile at Hollywoodbets Greyville on October 22 and he then might target some big Cape races.

The stallion day for Rabada at Summerveld will on Saturday September 16 will start at 10 a.m.

Please rsvp to Sandra at stud@bloomhill.co.za for catering purposes.

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The KZN Breeders Club’s newest stallion addition, Eden Roc, saw his half brother Sandringham Summit add to Eden Roc’s already impressive pedigree to win the same race his Var brother did in 2019, the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

Sandringham Summit defeated feature winner Gimmeanotherchance in the process, as well as Guy Gibson who has placed twice behind the talented Lucky Lad.

A R1,7-million yearling by Gimmethegreenlight, Sandringham Summit has now won twice and placed second twice from four starts for trainer David Niewenhuizen and owner Mr Rakesh Singh and doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon based on his form and good looks.

Clifton Stud, who stand Eden Roc on behalf of the KZN Breeders Club, will be hosting a stallion day on July 12th to introduce him publicly to breeders.

Eden Roc was purchased through the incentive of the Stallion Premiums from the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme, the first of its kind in South Africa.

The son of Var has an enviable race record and pedigree; out of Captain Al mare Townsend, a Gr2 winner herself who has produced 5 winners to date, this is also the family of Zapatillas.

Eden Roc is a coup for the KZN Breeding ranks, and the very handsome son of Var who fills your eye raced consistently and soundly until age 6.

His race record courtesy of www.raceform.co.za:

6 wins, 1160-1400m, at 2 to 4

Rated MR 119

At 2

WON Gr1 Gold Medallion (1200m)

WON Gr2 Golden Horseshoe (1400m)

At 3

WON Gr2 Merchants S. (1200m)

At 4

2nd Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint (1200m)

2nd Gr3 Merchants Hcp (1160m)

Rathmor Stud held their annual stallion day in honour of their special stallion Noble Tune on Sunday at their beautiful farm in Nottingham Road – with 200 guests from across the country, including leading breeders and trainers from the Cape and Johannesburg.

An eyecatching setting with an impressive transluscent tent and Noble Tune beanies on the chairs for guests, everyone was treated to what has become a tradition on Rathmor’s day with a giant seafood paella, an unbelievable amount of prawns and glorious lamb chops amongst the lunch on offer, along with a juice bar and cheese stand not forgetting the bar handled by Brad McHardy.

As the champagne and wine flowed on a warm winter Midlands day, MC Graeme Hawkins took the microphone to introduce the stallion everyone wanted to see. Lynton Ryan took over, and gave a moving but brief history on the pedigree and outstanding quality of Noble Tune as the handsome stallion circled the arena quietly with his handler.

Lynton highlighted the quality of the yearlings we have seen at sales and the sales results speak for themselves – from the Cape Yearling Sale, the Nationals and the KZN Yearling Sale.

Noble Tune has let down into a magnificent speciman, covering the ground with his big cat-like stride and oozing plenty of quality.

His most expensive yearling to date was bred and consigned by Piemonte Stud, whilst the KZN Yearling Sale saw Noble Tune as the leading sire overall.  Lynton Ryan said that he was proud of the fact that he had secured Noble Tune’s first yearling that came on the market in South Africa for a client at the Cape Yearling Sale, and enthused that the colt sold was the mirror image of his sire.

The first son of Unbridled’s Song to stand in South Africa (the latter a leading sire of the mighty Arrogate and Liam’s Map amongst many others), out of a hot international damline, Noble Tune is throwing his goodlooks, cat like-walk and athleticsm into his babies. Rathmor have secured a top quality band of mares including a recent R2,4million purchase from the recent CTS Mare sale at Highlands.

Noble Tune’s half-brother, dual Gr1 winner Honor Code, is producing the same at stud with foals of outstanding quality. Noble Tune placed second in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile on turf, and won a Gr2 and Gr3 amongst his outstanding efforts.

Noble Tune has had strong support from the Cape which has been wonderful to see, and the bookings have continued from the fairest province for the upcoming breeding season.

Noble Tune has impressed from the minute he landed on African soil, through to his foals and yearlings – now we look forward to watching them run!

Rathmor would like to thank everyone who came along, and to their sponsors who assisted with the day, including The Equine Group (who also insure Noble Tune) and Bene spring water.

A few pictures below from the day, view the full gallery at the following link on Facebook. 

We would love for you to join us – please let us know with your rsvp if you will be taking advantage of this transport service.

Thank you!

– Mike and Tanya, Rathmor Stud

Rathmor Stud held their third stallion day for their magnificent stallion Noble Tune, on Sunday in Nottingham Road.

Noble Tune is the only son of the grey outstanding sire and broodmare sire in the USA, Unbridled’s Song, to stand in Africa – and his half-brother Honor Code catapulted their immaculate dam line further into the limelight when he secured two Gr1’s in goosebump fashion and finished a courageous third to American Pharoah in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Classic.

Over 180 guests attended the day from all over the country, whilst Mario Ferreira made a grand entry from Pretoria with his family in a helicopter and flew home in the afternoon.  Noble Tune has let down into a mouth watering individual, quite reminiscent of his broodmare sire Storm Cat and ‘wowed’ the audience as he danced about the parade ring, enjoying the attention and giving an impressive display of his athleticism and balance.

Noble Tune was beautifully turned out with a glistening dark polished coat and snow white socks – his hindquarters are the replica of his 17hh plus grey sire Unbridled’s Song, whilst having a big honest eye and fine facial features.

He covers the ground effortlessly with his big cat like walk and swinging hindquarters – certainly a stallion that grabs your attention and ticks every box for what a breeder looks for in a potential sire each breeding season.

The host for the day – Gold Circle’s Graeme Hawkins – introduced the young stallion, saying its not to often that you get to see a horse that ran in the exclusive Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile (on turf), and to place second is in itself an exceptional achievement. Noble Tune also won the Gr2 American Turf Stakes in addition to winning the Gr3 Pilgrim Stakes amongst his four career wins.

The first foal for his dam and Stakes winner Serena’s Cat – her progeny have been in demand since the arrival of Noble Tune and Honor Code, and Lynton Ryan explained at lunch to the audience that “the cream” of the world’s Thoroughbred breeding establishments had all rallied to secure progeny from the daughter of Storm Cat and a grand-daughter of the great Serena’s Song – including Lane’s End and Coolmore, to which Lynton added “Rathmor Stud is in good company!”

In 2014 their Tapit half-sister named Serena’s Harmony set a world record when she was knocked down at the Keeneland weanling sale for $3million. A year later, her War Front half brother sold for $2,6million.

Their Bernardini half-sister named Lady Serena won her maiden by seven lengths and she has won twice since. Morse Code is the next to come through, and the son of Tapit finishing second on debut.

The pedigree cross has been remarkably successful, with incredible success stories such as the great American Pharoah, Close Hatches, Bodemeister, Forever Unbridled, Will Take Charge, Royal Delta, Rizeena, Carpe Diem, Puissance De Lune and Shared Belief all proving the depth of the nick.

Noble Tune’s dam line includes Sophisticat, another Gr1 Coronation Stakes winner, as well as the magnificent grey Group winner Puissance De Lune who has retired to stud in Australia.

It is therefore no surprise that last season saw Noble Tune’s book full with 103 mares, 22 of those travelling from the Cape with support from Klawervlei, Mauritzfontein, Gary Player Stud, Lammerskraal and Ascot Stud amongst them all sending mares.

With two months to go until the breeding season opens on 1 September, his book is currently sitting at 80 mares for 2016, to be capped at 100. Noble Tune’s second crop are due in 2016 and his first crop which are almost yearlings, have impressed from birth with looks, size, substance and confirmation.

Honor Code’s service fee at Lane’s End has been set at $40 000 for his first season, whilst Noble Tune stands for R25 000 (R5000 nomination and R20 000 live foal). Congratulations to Richard (Roo) Bechard who won a free service to Noble Tune on the day from a lucky draw.

A lovely clear winters day in the Midlands saw the guests wrapped in their Noble Tune scarves, thoroughly enjoying the festivities after viewing the handsome stallion, along with great live music and a seafood paella that had to be seen to be believed – a big thank you and congratulations to the team at Rathmor Stud for hosting a most successful and enjoyable day.

KZN is very fortunate to be standing a number of exciting young stallions at the moment, and the likes of the calibre and standard of Noble Tune make breeding in KZN a very exciting one indeed!

We look forward to Bush Hill Stud’s Stallion Day taking place on 29 July, where they will be introducing the Gr2 winning son of Galileo, Flying The Flag, to breeders in Mooi River. Flying The Flag’s trainer Mike De Kock will be attending the day and will share his thoughts to the breeders present on the chestnut stallion prospect that he holds in high regard.

A full photo gallery of the day is available on our facebook page at the following link.