With his third season at stud looming, Talk Of The Town, the first son of the late champion sire Var (USA) to stand as stallion at stud, will be returning to home soil on 1 August to continue his duties ensuring the legend of Var gets to live on in familiar surroundings.
Out of Street Wise (by Street Cry (IRE)), Talk Of The Town was bred in 2014 by Backworth Stud and later bought for R3million at the Cape Thoroughbred Sales Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale in 2017. Although a very promising racing career was afoot for the young son of Var, the Taberer family of Avontuur Estate and partners Ken and Jane Truter decided to retire him to stud due to health reasons, and in turn to afford him the opportunity to fill the big shoes of his late sire.
He initially settled in at Winterbach Stud in 2020 where his first season at stud got off to a scintillating start, and where all involved have done a tremendous job at allowing the young stallion to let down and settle into his new duties with ease over the last two years. The decision to move Talk Of The Town to stand at Avontuur Estate for the 2022 season has been supported by all shareholders and partners involved, as it seemed the logical choice since Var passed on earlier this year.
As a very good looking individual, and as we wait out another season before we get to see his yearlings at auction, having this exciting young stallion available to our South African breeders has meant we can offer not only great sire lines to continue to flourish, but broodmare sire lines too.
Var was Leading Sire of 2YO’s in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and Champion Sire of Winners in 2018-19. Var himself is the sire of 10 Grade 1 winners, including 2012 Equus Horse of the Year Variety Club and Champion Sprinters Val de Ra and Via Afrika amongst many other well-known names in South African racing. To date Var is the sire of over 100 black type horses with his progeny earning more than R150million. Var is certainly an exciting broodmare sire for the future of racing in South Africa.
To enquire about Talk Of The Town’s fee for the upcoming 2022 season, and to book a mare to this young sire, please email Pippa: stud@avontuurestate.co.za
Avontuur Estate will be hosting a Stallion Day in August, so keep an eye out for the announcement across media platforms.
Picture: Talk Of The Town (Chase Liebenberg)