The VAR syndicate has announced plans to add a sprint item to the annual racing calendar with a series of three races, aimed at revitalizing the speed category.

To be called the VAR Series, the first race, the “Need for Speed Sprint” over 1000m will take place on 22 January 2011 in Cape Town.  The  “Gold Rush Sprint” is planned for Johannesburg in March with KZN getting a turn in June.

Comments Avontuur GM, Pippa Mickleburgh; “We are thrilled with this initiative and thanks to the syndicate who decided to think out of the box and kickstart this drive.  For nearly 20 years, South Africa was without a significant speed sire which slowly eroded the number of races catering for that category. We now sit with an opportunity in the racing calendar for sprint races for 3 year olds. This series hopes to fill that gap  and create an entertaining new option for race lovers.”

More and more speed sires are coming into South Africa at the moment and the syndicate’s  3 year commitment hopes to generate enough excitement to earn a grading for this revitalized category.

The syndicate has put its money where its mouth is and can now only hope for the support of the racing fraternity, breeders and trainers and obviously the racing public to ensure the resurgence of this exciting visually explosive category.

Photo: VAR, Avontuur’s Champion sire, whose acquisition has been a catalyst for the introduction of a new speed series.