More G1 Success for Fastnet Rock’s Avantage

A Champion 2YO that won the Karaka Million in 2018, quality Fastnet Rock mare Avantage again showed her class at Trentham on Saturday when scoring a determined victory in the Group I JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) defeating Enzo’s Lad, who had won the previous two editions of the prestigious sprint.

Prepared by Jamie Richards for owners the Te Akau Avantage syndicate, Avantage gained a measure of revenge for the Matamata stable after outstanding racemare Melody Belle was defeated in the 2019 running of the event.

Richards and the Te Akau team put their faith in the hands of regular rider Opie Bosson and New Zealand’s premier hoop didn’t disappoint.

Advised by Richards before the race to be anywhere but last in the early running, Bosson bounced Avantage away nicely from the widest barrier in the thirteen-horse field to sit just beyond midfield with cover.

She charged to the line to run down Enzo’s Lad and win by half a length scoring the second Group I victory of her career following on from success in the Group I Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes as a juvenile.

“Jamie and the whole team had her spot on for today,” Bosson said.

“I galloped her Tuesday morning and the work was first class.

“I had no plan really as Jamie had said just don’t be last. I ended up getting quite a nice run with cover although she wobbled around a bit over the junction.

“It didn’t matter though as she always had them covered, she’s a little sweetheart.”

Richards was delighted with the performance and the way the mare had returned to form after a disappointing Sydney campaign in the spring following a lacklustre run to open her campaign at Ruakaka.

“She’s a proper good horse,” Richards said.

“We made a mistake taking her to Sydney in the spring when things didn’t go our way at Ruakaka.

“I’m glad that we can repay the owner’s faith and get a good Group One with her.

“She’s all class and is just a real racehorse.

“She’s so strong, built like a colt and is incredibly hard to handle.

“It’s a great thrill for everybody involved as Dave (Ellis) tries to buy the best horses that we can for our owners. To get these results a week out from the sale is really important for the whole business.”

David Ellis of Te Akau Racing bought Avantage for $210,000 out of the Oaks Stud Premier draft at the 2017 Karaka Yearling Sale and she has the super impressive record of eight wins and four placings from 14 starts with earnings in excess of $1million.

Avantage is the second winner for stakes-winning Zabeel mare Asavant, a daughter of Group III winner Pins ‘n’ Needles and half-sister to Hong Kong based Group I winning sprinter DB Pin.

Asavant is now in the ownership of Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock and has a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock and after missing in 2018 to Merchant Navy was covered again by Fastnet Rock last year.