Avantage to Chase Ninth G1

Media Release - Tuesday March 16

While an Australian campaign is enticing for the connections of Avantage, Te Akau principal David Ellis and trainer Jamie Richards have elected to keep the multiple Group One winner in New Zealand for now.

Avantage will remain in New Zealand for now - image Trish Dunell

The five-year-old mare has won five of her nine starts this season, all at Group level, and placed in her other four starts, including three times runner-up to stablemate Melody Belle at Group One level, most recently in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

“It was a big effort,” Richards said. “2000m is right at her distance range and she continues to excel at all distances.

“It’s just unfortunate she runs into Melody Belle from time-to-time and is probably three Group Ones short of where she should be.”

Advertisement

The winner of eight Group Ones, Avantage will be shooting for her ninth victory at elite-level when she contests the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on April 10.

“She will have a quiet week this week and then she will be freshened and set for the Te Aroha Breeders’ Stakes,” Richards said.

“We are mindful that she has had a busy year and we are reluctant to send her over to Australia after such a busy time.”

While an Australian autumn campaign has been ruled out, Richards said the Te Akau team are contemplating a trip to Melbourne in the spring with the daughter of Fastnet Rock after tackling the Hawke’s Bay triple crown.

“We will start where we did (Hastings) and maybe look at Melbourne and give her her chance,” Richards said.

“She has done a great job in New Zealand and the way to add some value to her now is to head back to Australia and see if she can be competitive in those better races.”

One Te Akau member that will be heading to Australia in the next week is Entriviere.

The Tavistock mare has won five of her six starts, including a last start triumph in the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m), and now an Australian campaign has been set for the exciting four-year-old.

“She is pencilled to have a trial 10 days before the Sapphire (Gr.2, 1200m),” Richards said. “She could go over towards the end of this week or early next week. She will have a quiet time of it for three or four days. She enjoys her races being spaced and she is on track.”

Meanwhile, Richards was pleased with Savy Yong Blonk’s runner-up performance behind Levante at Ellerslie on Saturday, and she will now head to Awapuni to tackle the Gr.2 City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Gold Cup (2000m) next month.

“She goes to the Awapuni Gold Cup in three weeks’ time and then into the Travis (Gr.2, 2000m). They are the three races we had picked out for her in the autumn,” Richards said.

“She goes very well fresh and sprints well fresh and it took a very good one to beat her on Saturday. She is going really well.” – NZ Racing Desk

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.