The retirement of champion producer VAR has thrust the spotlight firmly on his only son at stud.
Talk Of The Town is a handsome and athletic specimen with a stallion’s pedigree to match his movie star looks – and expectations are high that he will continue to build the dynasty launched by the fastest racehorse on earth.
The majestic Talk Of The Town on the move (Pic- Chase Liebenberg)
The VAR story needs no retelling. The pensioning of Avontuur’s four-legged flagship of excellence a matter of weeks ago had racing and breeding folk from all four corners of the globe wishing him a happy retirement.
And now into the sizeable void steps Talk Of The Town.
Avontuur GM Pippa Mickleburgh is upbeat and bubbling with enthusiasm about the new kid on the block, who is ready to enter his second season at stud.
“Just look at him. You gotta say, wow! He is big, strong and imposing. He has let down very well and has stamped his first two foals with his height and scope. That’s exciting as we all have medium-sized mares, who would benefit from the upgrade,” says the experienced Stud Manager.
We asked Pippa what lines would work with Talk Of The Town.
Talk Of The Town’s stunning first foal – out of She Will Rule, a daughter of Dynasty(Pic- Chase Liebenberg
“The statistics are all there from VAR’S reign. He had a special affinity with Western Winter, Jet Master and Lecture mares, as a start. But breeders are well-informed and they only need to have a look at Talk Of The Town’s stallion pedigree to make their minds up.”
Pippa adds that her new man is very fertile and represents terrific value at R7 000 live foal.
“We believe in him. We’d like to get him a good start and that is why we have kept the cover affordable and are happy to look at discounted deals for multiple bookings. Please come and talk to us,” she says enthusiastically.
And a stallion’s pedigree he certainly has. Talk Of The Town’s page includes the winners of 14 Gr 1 races – within the first three dams – and he is from one of the best families in the Australian Stud Book, with the first 3 generations including ten individual sires.
Between them the family have produced 282 Stakes winners, led by 54 Gr1 winners.
Talk Of The Town has his eye on the prize (Pic- Chase Liebenberg
Talk Of The Town is out of the unraced Street Cry mare Street Wise, whose granddam is the outstanding Nijinsky II mare Dancing Show. The latter is granddam of the great Redoute’s Choice – sire of newly crowned champion freshman sire Rafeef, Wylie Hall, Time Thief and Redoute’s Promise, amongst others.
The broodmare line has produced ten Gr1 winners. Street Cry is broodmare sire of the multiple Eclipse Award champion Zenyatta and World Horse of the decade, Winx, two of the greatest mares ever to set foot on a racetrack.
Sold for R3 million at the CTS Emperor’s Palace Select Yearling Sale in 2017, Talk Of The Town was set for a bright future but was sadly forced into retirement for health reasons from racing after just 5 runs.
He registered three wins on the trot from his last three starts. He even had multiple champion jockey Anton Marcus excited! Talk Of The Town was favourite for the 2018 CTS Million Mile, but was withdrawn and never raced again.
Talk Of The Town stands down the road from Avontuur at Winterbach Stud.
- Please give Pippa a call today – or email her on [email protected]
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