Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm’s prominent sire Var, the Leading Sire of 2Yos in South Africa the past two years running, once again made headlines this weekend, when his daughter Schippers scored an impressive win in the G2 World Sports Betting Camellia Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.

Bred and owned by Geoff van Lear, the four-year-old Schippers made it win number six when romping home in Saturday’s R400 000 by two and a half lengths, while accounting for such graded stakes winners as Mighty High, Green Plains, San Fermin, Exquisite Touch (another by Var) and Desert Rhythm.
One of two graded winners on the day for the combination of Geoff Woodruff and Gavin Lerena, the Var filly (a likely G1 South African Fillies Sprint candidate) had previously tasted graded success when victorious in the 2018 G3 Epol Magnolia Handicap.

Saturday’s win took the classy Schippers’s earnings to R870 950.

Her sire Var has enjoyed another good season in 2018-2019, with his other notable runners including G3 Fillies Mile winner Ghaalla, the hugely promising 3yo Vardy (who has already banked over R980 000 in stakes), impressive debut winner Eden Roc, and Saturday’s G2 SA Fillies Nursery runner up Cavivar.

To date, Var has been responsible for more than 80 black type performers, including Equus Champions Variety Club, Val De Ra and Via Africa.