Cover image courtesy of Peter Rubery at Race Images
The Jamie Richards-trained Avantage had little trouble putting her rivals away in the JR & N Berkett-sponsored feature after stablemate Quattro Quinta (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) had earlier produced a tenacious display to land the Listed Wellesley S.
In between times, Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) was beaten but not disgraced in the G1 Levin Classic when he powered home to finish runner-up and retain equal favouritism with Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) for the G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby.
With the premier sprint double of the Railway and Telegraph in the bag, Avantage is now a six-time Group 1 winner and as a proven 2000 metre performer, as she showed in her G1 New Zealand S. success, future options are many and varied.
“She’s just a great mare and done us all proud again, it’s pretty special. She’ll have a quiet week and then go on to Te Rapa for the G1 BCD Group Sprint,” Richards said.
“She’s just a great mare and done us all proud again, it’s pretty special.” – Jamie Richards
“She’s putting together a great record and all credit to David Ellis for buying her and all these horses – Probabeel and Melody Belle and backing his judgment again at the Gold Coast.”
Te Akau chief Ellis, with the help of Andrew Williams Bloodstock, purchased six youngsters at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale, including three by Fastnet Rock and a top price of $825,000.
The Coolmore-offered colt is a son of Ciarlet (Northern Meteor), who is a sister to the two-time Group 1 winner and leading sire Zoustar.
Lot 163 - Fastnet Rock x Ciarlet (colt)
“We love Fastnet Rock and Avantage has done a fantastic job for us. She’s done it all in New Zealand and I would like to give her the chance to put a Group 1 on the board in Australia,” Richards said.
“She deserves the opportunity and we’ll make a plan on how we get there. It’s a wonderful team effort and I can’t thank everyone enough.”
The powerfully-built Avantage raced three wide with cover within sight of the leaders on Saturday and when rider Danielle Johnson asked her for a serious effort in the straight the 5-year-old powered away.
She crossed the line with 2l to spare on Spring Heat (More Than Ready {USA}), who came on well in the closing 150 metres, with the winner’s stablemate Burgundy Belle (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) a strong third in her sternest test to date.
“She came through the G1 Railway S. in great shape and she’s a mare with a wonderful constitution who can take her racing and work,” Richards said of Avantage. “There wasn’t a lot of difference between this year and last year in her condition. She’s a wonderful mare and a pleasure to train.”
Jamie Richards
A pleasure
Johnson said Avantage was a pleasure to ride and humbly played down her role in the success.
“Words can’t describe how exciting it is to get on her and win a Group 1. Everyone talks about her and I’m just a small part of the team and am lucky to be associated with her.
“Everyone talks about her and I’m just a small part of the team and am lucky to be associated with her.” – Danielle Johnson
“I was three wide with some cover and I knew what I had beneath me and she put them away quite quickly.”
Bred by Willie and Karen Calder, Avantage was offered on their behalf at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale by The Oaks Stud and knocked down to Ellis for NZ$210,000.
She is a daughter of the Listed Warstep S. winner Asavant (NZ), also the dam of multiple winner and stakes performer Asathought (So You Think {NZ}).
Asavant is a half-sister to the G1 HKJC Centenary Cup winner D B Pins (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and their dam Pins ‘N’ Needles (NZ) (Pins) was a talented mare who won the G3 White Robe Lodge S. and finished runner-up in the G1 Thorndon Mile.
