Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm, situated beneath the Helderberg, is a quality producer of thoroughbreds. The stud was established around forty years ago by the late Tony Taberer, and his sons Michael and Philip sustain the legacy, with GM Pippa Mickleburgh still diligently running the operation.
Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm – home to outstanding sires like Talk Of The Town (Pic – Jade Macdonald)
Avontuur is a boutique farm with 25 mares and a specific focus on quality, not quantity.
The stud typically features prominently on the winners to runner’s ratio, as well as high up on average earnings per runner (AEPR) stats.
The policy is to constantly upgrade by adding group winners from excellent bloodlines.
This long-term approach, coupled with only sending these specially selected mares to outstanding sires, keeps Avontuur at the top of the industry.
They will have six representatives at the Cape Racing Sales CPYS ’24 to be staged 25 January at the CTICC.
Lot 5
The auction starts at 14h30, and soon thereafter Lot 5, Dreamworld by hugely exciting freshman sire, One World ex Dream de Ra, will go through the ring.
The bay colt’s dam is a half-sister to Miss Frankel; the 2nd dam Val de Ra was champion sprinter in SA in 2010/11 and third dam, Minelli produced top notch performers, Tevez, Cue the Music and Mitra.
Lot 102
Lot 102 will grab everybody’s attention – a Rafeef colt out of the Var mare, Varikate and thus a full brother to high-class, Thunderstruck who won the Gr1 Gold Medallion as a juvenile and has trained on to be one of SA’s premier sprinters. Nightrain will be receiving plenty of visitors beating a path to stable B32.
Lot 20
Lot 20, Glastonbury is by the same sire, out of the Gimmethegreenlight mare, Gimme London, with oodles of Black Type in evidence through renowned 3rd dam, Secret Pact.
Lot 24
Shortly thereafter, Lot 24 will be sold. I’m Gorgeous is by Hawwaam out of Hannah Gorgeous, a three-quarter sister to Futura, HOTY in 2014/15 and now an emerging stallion.
Lot 34
Town Crier is listed as Lot 34. This William Longsword colt ex Kitco is a half-brother to Pray for Rain, a multiple winning sprinter placed at Gr1 level.
Lot 131
Zalatoris, a bay colt by Erik the Red out of Charisma comes near the end of the day’s proceedings as Lot 131.
The sire, whose oldest progeny are yearlings, was a noted speedball. 2nd dam, Fine Wood (by Fort Wood) produced Gr1 winning sprinter, Contador so there is speed on both sides. Going back even further, 4th dam Lunar Lullaby threw legendary champ, 1988/89, HOTY Rolands Song.
Pippa Mickleburgh is the person to contact with any queries relating to the Avontuur draft. She’ll be onsite to show the yearlings; alternatively direct emails to [email protected]
View the full catalogue online.
