G1 Season Reflections - Avantage

Avantage (5 m Fastnet Rock - Asavant, by Zabeel), 2020/21 Group 2 Foxbridge Plate winner was then runner-up in both the Windsor Park Plate (Gr. 1, 1600m) and Livamol Classic (Gr. 1, 2040m) ,- but then she threw down the Group 1 gauntlet saying ‘enough is enough, I will be centre-stage this season' …

What transpired, winning FIVE Group One races in her next six starts (including the iconic Railway/Telegraph/Waikato Sprint treble), was a phenomenal combination of placement by trainer Jamie Richards and the superb execution from a mare that runs through brick walls in the heat of competition.

Freshened after spring racing, Avantage was set to resume following a smart 1000-metre trial win on 8 December at Avondale, and already a Group One winner at 1200m, 1400m, 1600m, & 2000m the Sistema Railway (Gr. 1, 1200m) looked an ideal target on 1 January at Ellerslie.

Handed to her on a plate when Opie Bosson secured the trail, Avantage sighted daylight two off the rail turning for home and unleashed her customary bulldog finish to win impressively.

“She's a winner at two, three, four, and five, and typifies the sort of horse that we're trying to buy,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM, who purchased her for $210,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale.

Shortening in betting to return $2.10 & $1.20, Avantage ran the 1200 metres in a sizzling 1:08.9, last 600m in 32.5. 

On to defend her title in the Telegraph (Gr. 1, 1200m) on 16 January at Trentham, Avantage recorded her sixth group one victory.

A high-class and quality athlete, Avantage got the job done a year earlier under a courageous and brilliant ride by Opie Bosson. But from a handy spot on this occasion, and with Danielle Johnson aboard, she simply dominated her rivals in the straight.

“She's just a pleasure to ride and words can't describe how exciting it is to get on her and win Group Ones,” said Johnson, who registered four wins on the programme. “I'm lucky to be associated with her and such a joy to be a part of this.”

Justifying her favouritism ($1.60), Avantage won in scintillating time: 1:06.9, in the top half dozen fastest times for the race in the past 30 years, a phenomenal performance, and, additionally, the stable finished third with a terrific effort by Burgundy Belle (Burgundy). 

Trainer Jamie Richards stuck to the recipe with Avantage, giving the six-time Group One winner an exhibition gallop between races on Wednesday 3 February at Te Rapa, 10 day out from the BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) on the same course.

“She's a month between runs and up to 1400 metres, so she needed to do something and we gave her a similar prep last year,” Richards said.

It was a victory that ranked among her best. On Legends Day at Te Rapa, in a race won previously by Sunline (Desert Sun), Darci Brahma (Danehill), and Mufhasa (Pentire), Avantage joined stable-mates Melody Belle (Commands) and Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) to provide a hat-trick for Te Akau, and four in the last six years with the addition of Xtravagant (Pentire). 

Positively ridden outside the leader by Opie Bosson, Avantage let down in the straight with an enormous gallop to stop the clock among the best for the race (1:20.8), winning by three and a half lengths. Such power and determination, Avantage hurtled her sizeable frame down the straight, providing a sight to behold.

“Dave and Karyn syndicated her amongst some great owners and they're all having the ride of a lifetime,” Richards said. “Nicole Shailer, Sam Bergerson, and Reece Trumper that look after her at the Middle Barn, and all the team, I can't thank everyone enough. 

“The man on top (Opie Bosson) did a great job and Trev (Stewart) was there leading her in - the muscle.”

Make it eight. Eight Group Ones for the Champion Avantage when she defended her title in the El Cheapo Cars Weight-For-Age Classic (Gr. 1, 1600m) on 27 February at Otaki. 

She had to work, but was still too good. Backed off the charts ($1.20 & $1.10), fair to say it would have been far more of a shock had Avantage been beaten. 

Jostling for positions saw Avantage posted three wide on the pace before Opie Bosson seized an initiative to slide forward outside the leader. On the bridle 600m out, she got away at the 300 metres to establish a winning break and never looked like being overhauled. 

On Dead4 footing, Avantage ran the 1600 metres in a sizzling 1:34.0 and became the 81^st Group One winner for Bosson. 

The title defence provided a hat-trick in the race for Te Akau, with dual Horse of the Year Melody Belle (Commands) having won in 2019.

Second to stable-mate Melody Belle (Commands) in the Bonecrusher NZ Stakes (Gr. 1, 2000m) on Auckland Cup Day (13 March) at Ellerslie, Avantage had just over a month to her season finale in the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m).

Richards gave her a trial on 31 March at Matamata, in which she quickened boldly for second, and looked a shots eye for the Breeders' Stakes on 17 April at Te Rapa (a week after the race was postponed at Te Aroha).

On a day that trainer Jamie Richards established a new national record (144) for wins in a season, it was fitting that Avantage was able to notch her ninth Group One victory in the 50^th running of such a prestigious event. 

It was steely resolve that got her home, as challengers either side in the straight laid down their claims. But Avantage drew on all her reserves to hold them at bay. It was captivating, and the star won out under Danielle Johnson.

On footing that remained Slow8 throughout the day, Avantage ran the 1600 metres in 1:37.3 and last 600m in 35.3.

“The only query coming in was the rain-affected track,” Richards said. “Physically, she was first-class “She's very versatile and continues to get better with age, and has a great will-to-win.”

The winner of three from four on the course at Te Rapa, including the BCD Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m) in February, Avantage was purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM for $210,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Sale, and her 16 wins from 27 starts have amassed $2.1 million prize money for Te Akau Avantage Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

In summary - Avantage won five Group 1's this season and was placed second in three and third in another.  Racebase have her rated as Number 1 in New Zealand.

“There have been 21 Group Ones in New Zealand this season and Avantage has won five of them, three seconds, and a third,” Ellis said. “I'd like to thank all our owners in this great mare and congratulate them on their incredible success.”

At nine group one wins, Avantage is the record-holder for her champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill). Next best, Atlantic Jewel, bred on the same Fastnet Rock/Zabeel cross, has four. Interestingly, of his 41 Group One winners, six of the eight multiple winners are fillies. 

A South Island bred family, 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 from the family of Hong Kong star D B Pin (Darci Brahma), a Group One winner of $24m.  

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