Noble Tune by Unbridled’s Song ex Serena’s Song (Storm Cat)
Boasting an unbeaten record, including a G3 win, Noble Tune started as favourite for the G1 Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Turf over a mile on the tight Santa Anita track in November 2012. It was the first time a 2yo Breeder’s Cup event carried a ban on raceday drugs – meaning no Lasix. On a firm turf track he finished just over a length second to Irish visitor George Vancouver in the 14-runner event, to round off his first season with a 114 Timeform rating.
Noble Tune reappeared early in May at Churchill Downs (Kentucky Oaks day) in the Gr2 American Turf Stakes over 1700m. He skipped clear halfway down the straight, to win by two. He had two more runs subsequently, but wasn’t seen out again after a fourth finish in July. Set for his 2014 debut following a bullet 58.5 workout over 5 furlongs, negotiations for his sale took place and a deal was completed. The new connections decided on retiring him in South Africa and not race again.
Noble Tune is by Breeder’s Cup Juvenile and Florida Derby winner Unbridled’s Song, a successful sire, and sire-of-sires. In 2013 Unbridled’s Song stallion Dunkirk (out of an AP Indy mare) led the freshman sire list, thanks in large part to the successes of Havana, winner of the G1 Champagne and second to New Year’s Day in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Seventh on that same list was Zensational (dam by Phone Trick). Rockport Harbor was leading sire of 2yo’s in 2013, making Unbridled’s Song the first horse since Nasrullah in 1967 to sire annual leaders of both the freshman and juvenile sire lists in the USA.
Noble Tune is half brother to 2013 2yo Honor Code, winner of the G2 Remsen Stakes and a neck second to Havana (by Unbridled’s Song’s son Dunkirk) in the G1 Champagne Stakes. Timeform rated him the fourth best 2yo in the USA, at 119p. Honor Code was a hopeful for the 2014 Kentucky Derby until a tear in his off-hind upper suspensory forced him to the sidelines for now.
Noble Tune and Honor Code are the only runners to date produced by stakes winner Serena’s Cat, a daughter of Storm Cat. She is half sister to Vocalized, a two-time Gr3 winner in UK and Ireland (where he now stands at stud). Their 7-time winning dam Serena’s Tune (by Mr P.) is a daughter of 1995 champion 3yo filly Serena’s Song (by Rahy), who won 13 G1 races and is dam of English Gr1 winner Sophisticat (Storm Cat). Serena’s Song was inducted into the US Hall Of Fame.
Noble Tune will stand his first season in 2014 at Rathmor Stud in KwaZulu-Natal. His fee is set at R25.000.
