Advantage Absolutely Fabulous

The second of four winners today for Team Te Akau was an exciting young filly by Fastnet Rock ...

Appearing a class package when stepping out at the trials, Avantage (2 f Fastnet Rock - Asavant, by Zabeel) turned up the wick with an impressive win on debut in the $22,500 Nobby Russell Memorial 2YO 800 metres on 7 October at Riccarton.

“That was a very exciting and impressive win,” said David Ellis, who purchased the filly in January this year for $210,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the Oaks Stud draft.

“She was a foal share with Coolmore Stud and Southlander Willy Calder, and when Opie (Bosson) rode her at the trials he told us she was the real deal, and as usual he has been proved spot on.”

Avantage is owned by the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), and joined impressive mid-week winner Irish Cream (O'Reilly) and Queen of the Air (I Am Invincible) as smart two-year-old fillies to recently grace the turf from the stable.

“It was an added thrill that she is the first horse that sports' broadcaster Tony Veitch has had with us and he played the race on his radio sports' programme this afternoon, Newstalk ZB, promotional coverage that racing needs and just can't buy. So, it was fantastic,” Ellis said.

Although not electrically into stride over the sprint trip, Avantage quickened to lead at the 200m and after changing stride, and flattening out, she got away to score impressively by two and a quarter lengths for jockey Alysha Collett.

On rain-affected footing, downgraded to Dead6, Avantage covered the 800m in 46.3, last 600m in scintillating 32 seconds. Hotly supported, she paid $1.60 to win.

Ellis said that Avantage had been sent south to the Te Akau training base at Riccarton, in preparation for the $50,000 Welcome Stakes (Listed, 1000m) on Saturday 18 November at Riccarton.

“She has gone down there for a couple of races leading into the Welcome Stakes and we thought it was a great way of qualifying her for the Karaka Million,” Ellis said. “So she'll probably have another run beforehand, but she's just got so much improvement in her, this filly, it's remarkable.

“Steve (Autridge) and Jamie (Richards) have done a great job with her.

“And, gee, isn't Alysha Collett on fire. She's won two of the first three races for us, after riding four winners on Wednesday at Ruakaka.”

By champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill), the dam of Avantage, Asavant (Zabeel), won the Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m) as a three-year-old at Riccarton, gaining a Group One placing when finishing third in the Darci Brahma International Stakes (2000m), and while destined to get over more ground she looks to have the class to prove very competitive wherever she is placed.

“It was a very good win,” Richards said. “She trialled very well at Te Teko, and Opie put a big wrap on the filly, and we got her down here nice and early to prepare for the Welcome Stakes. It's something Te Akau has done with young horses for a number of years and enjoyed plenty of success.

“So, hopefully she can follow that path and she'll have another race here in three weeks (Oct. 28). She is going super, Dave (Ellis) has some great owners in this filly and we are really pleased with her.”

Avantage won a trial on the same course a fortnight earlier, on ground rated Heavy10, with stable foreman Daniel Miller reporting: “She was not really suited by the heavy track, but I think she is pretty classy. She had a good blow afterwards and should come on leaps and bounds for it.”

Avantage was strapped by Jamie Richards.

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz