An Exciting Exhibition

Champion Two-Year-Old Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and dual New Zealand stakes' winner Chance to Dance (Teofilo) had an exhibition gallop between races on 1 September at Hastings, on a day that saw trainer Jamie Richards saddle former Champion Two-Year-Old Melody Belle (Commands) to win the Tarzino Trophy (Gr. 1, 1400m) and Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), winner of three from four, in a fresh-up victory over 1200 metres.

Galloping 1000 metres in 1:02.5, last 600m in 34.5, Avantage (Shafiq) travelled on the rail, with Chance to Dance (Weatherley) to her outside.

“It was nice to get Avantage on a good track, a day away at the races, sunshine to bring her coat on, and I like the way she was cocking her ears and having a bit of a look around like she used to do last season and I think she's where she needs to be,” Richards said.

“Chance to Dance is coming up really well,” Richards said. “He's looks terrific, as sound as he's been. He's had a trial and a gallop, and we might even give him another gallop somewhere just to have him hard and fit for a mile first up.”

At this stage, Avantage could resume in the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on 22 September at Hastings, and Chance to Dance in the Haunui Farm Karaka Classic (Listed, 1600m) on 23 September at Pukekohe, a race he won fresh-up last year carrying 60kgs.

Following a cracking day for the Te Akau team at Hastings, Richards reported the horses to have pulled up well.

“They're good, happy with them,” he said. “Obviously, a little bit of feed left in the bin but they'll lick up tonight after a rest day today. But we're pleased with how they trotted up this morning.

Regarding Melody Belle, Richards said: “We're very lucky to have that mare. She's very special and been very good for my career, so I can't thank her enough.

“And I think he's top drawer, Te Akau Shark. He's a Group One horse if we can keep him sound. We'll space his races. He's still immature, still a bit soft, even next year, but he'll be the sort of horse to have only half a dozen runs this season, and he could be the type to win a Foxbridge Plate and the Tarzino next year, we'll see.

“He's bred to get two miles, but he's got a wicked turn of foot. We took the blinkers off yesterday, to save them if we ever needed them again. Opie (Bosson) was pretty keen to leave them off for the first couple of runs, anyway, and see how we get on.”

Richards said Te Akau Shark would probably go to the water walker and have a pretty quiet week before returning to the stable, while Tarzino winner Melody Belle and third placed stable-mate Our Abbadean (Lookin At Lucky) may work towards the Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 22 October at Hastings.

Seemingly with the world at her feet, Avantage was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $210,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, from the Oaks Stud draft, and owned by the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

A debut winner last October at Riccarton, Avantage made it four in a row when winning the Karaka Million (Restricted Listed, 1200m) in January, clocked the fastest last 600m (32.8) of the day with a massive sprint for second to stable-mate Sword Of Osman (Savabeel) in the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m), and culminated her six start (five wins and a second) two-year-old season with a huge victory in the Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m) on 31 March at Awapuni, for $762,370 in prize money.

Chance to Dance was bought by David Ellis for $260,000 at the inaugural Inglis Chairman's Sale of Elite Racing Prospects in Sydney. A former European and Australian galloper, following the purchase he finished second in the $2m Sydney Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) - subsequently declared a non-race - and then ran fifth a fortnight later in the rerun.

Owned by the Fortuna Chance To Dance Syndicate (Mgr: John Galvin), he followed his Karaka Classic win with victory in the OMF Stakes (Gr. 3, 2000m) on Melbourne Cup Day at Ellerslie.