Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm’s outstanding sire Var made headlines at Saturday night’s East Cape Racing Awards when his daughter Star Burst Galaxy was named the regional Horse Of The Year and Champion Older Mare for 2017-2018.

Now retired to stud, the Ian Heyns bred Star Burst Galaxy won six races last season, with the bay’s victories including both the Listed Lady’s Pendant and Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes, and she was also second in the Listed Milkwood Stakes and third in the Listed Lady’s Bracelet.

The Var daughter retires having won nine of 24 races, with the consistent Star Burst Galaxy finishing out of the money just twice in her career.

Star Burst Galaxy, who banked R762 675 in stakes, was one of a number of top fillies produced in Var’s 2013 foal crop, with others including G2 The Debutante winner A Womens Way, G3 Man O’War Sprint heroine Exquisite Touch and the brilliant Sommerlied.

It is not the first time this year that a daughter of Var has fared well at a local awards evening –his G1 South African Fillies Sprint winning daughter Sommerlied picked up two awards at the recent KZN Racing Awards ceremony.
Owned and bred by Maine Chance Farms, Sommerlied was named Champion Sprinter and Older Mare at the KZN awards for the 2017-2018.

One of eight G1 winners sired by Var thus far, Sommerlied won seven of 11 races, with her other notable wins including the G3 Poinsettia Stakes and Listed Laisserfaire Stakes.

Var, Champion Sire of 2YOs in South Africa the past two seasons running, has nearly 100 stakes horses to his name, including the Equus Champions Variety Club, Val De Ra and Via Africa.