THE smashing individual on the photo below is Viva La Var, by Avontuur Stud’s outstanding stallion VAR from the top class race mare Viva, by National Assembly. He’s Lot 301 at the forthcoming National Yearling Sale at the TBA Complex, bred to fly and will get even more than his fair share of attention after VAR’s great start to 2012 and another bold showing on Easter Weekend.

VAR had a truly “Super Sunday” at Clairwood last Sunday. His 2yo son and daughter, Twitter and Valdivia, won the day’s two juvenile feature races in eye catching fashion to stamp themselves as two to follow.

Both Twitter and Valdivia were bred by Avontuur and both youngsters are trained by Vaughan Marshall, one of Var’s biggest admirers. He was previously the conditioner of Var’s brilliant G1 winning son, Villandry.

Valdivia, who maintained her unbeaten record in the G3 Strelitzia Stakes, drew admiring superlatives from her winning rider, Anton Marcus. Marcus admitted it had been a long time since he had been that fast on a juvenile – high praise indeed from the reigning champion jockey!

Valdivia is a ball of speed, and she simply was too fast for her overmatched rivals in the Strelitzia. Unbeaten in two starts, Valdivia is without question one of the fastest 2yo fillies seen out this season.

She has a half-brother, by the great Horse Chestnut, on offer at the 2012 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, and this colt is bound to be popular. Valdivia looks to have the speed and class to follow in the footsteps of Var’s great daughter, Val de Ra.

Twitter is a 2yo who should continue to improve with racing. Nonetheless, he proved too classy for a competitive bunch of 2yos in the G3 Godolphin Barb to pick up his first feature race victory.

A full brother to the useful Marshall trained Berkley, Twitter is a colt who could train on to be a classic hopeful at three.

Another exciting Var colt on sale at the National Sale is lot 107. This bay colt is a half-brother to the very promising 2yo filly, Captain’s Lullaby. This Avontuur bred was second in the recent Listed Perfect Promise Sprint, and this colt could be anything.

Pippa Mickleburgh will be in attendance at the National Yearling Sale, offering her legendary hospitality in Block C, from 20 April. Photos of the Avontuur yearlings can be viewed at www.avontuurestate.co.za.