Te Akau's "Season That Was" continues ...

The penultimate of Te Akau's 18 black type races came courtesy of a stunning fresh up victory by former Karaka Million and Group 1 winner, the 2017/18 Champion 2YO Avantage - and in Sydney too!

In what could amount to the training performance of the season by Jamie Richards, Avantage(3 f Fastnet Rock - Asavant, by Zabeel) resumed with a courageous win in the $160,000 TAB Birthday Card Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) on Golden Slipper Day, 23 February, at Rosehill Gardens, Sydney.

Crowned Champion Two-Year-Old of the 2017/18 season after winning five of her six starts, including the $1m Karaka Million (Listed, 1200m) and Sires' Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), Avantage was defiant winning the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr. 3, 1200m) during the spring at Hastings, but spelled soon after with soreness issues.

“She had a muscle problem in her back and if the horses aren't right then it's our policy to spell them,” said Te Akau principal David Ellis. “We're not going to patch up a top filly like her, so we gave her a good spell and she's come back in great shape. Time is a great healer and it's the cheapest.”

Despite the two trials, six months away from racing and lacking race fitness, combined with a Heavy track, raised questions, but she quelled those with a hearty performance. Able to lead, with two favoured runners posted to her outside, she was headed by Resin (Exceed and Excel) at the 200m, who sat three deep, but her run was short-lived and Avantage responded under urgings from Opie Bosson to draw clear for a comfortable victory.

“It's not easy to beat them in Sydney, so that was very exciting for everyone,” Ellis said. “It was a fantastic training effort by Jamie to have a horse ready that hadn't had a start for six months, but he knows her so well; just the sort of work she needs and I thought it was an amazing job to get her ready to beat such a good field of fillies and mares. It's an incredible effort by Jamie and all the team.

“It was a beautiful ride by Opie. He brought her off the rail in the straight so she could see the other horse (Resin) and she's just so competitive. She hates being beaten.

“I know she's a Champion, but this is the sort of horse I'm trying to buy. A filly or colt that can race well at two, go on and win big races at three, and in her case I can see her having her best season next year as a four-year-old. She's bred to run in a Cox Plate (2040m) and they're the sort of races we'd love to see her in. She's a powerful, strong filly. 

“Most of the owners have been with us for a long time and huge supporters of Te Akau Racing. A lot of them have invested in new horses this year and it's great to see them getting the thrill of a lifetime with a filly like Avantage. 

“Quite a few of the owners went over to see her race and it would be an amazing thrill for them. 

“I bought the filly off Coolmore Stud, as a foal share with her breeders, Willie and Karen Calder. They're great supporters of ours, they've got three horses in work with us, and a Southland couple, what they've achieved as breeders is nothing short of amazing.”

Richards said: “We're very proud Kiwis and we love coming over here to be competitive and representing New Zealand. It was a pretty special win to come off a decent break and she came over in really good order. 

“Dad (Paul Richards) is over here with them doing a great job. Giving them so much time and the care and attention that they need, and I was up on the dais accepting the accolades on behalf of a lot of people.”

Avantage was strapped by former Te Akau apprentice Amber Edmeads.

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