Winner: Avantaggia Awesome Again

Presented in immaculate condition, Avantaggia (3 f Wootton Bassett – Avantage, by Fastnet Rock) stepped up with aplomb in the $30,000 Anzac Day Rating 69 3YO 1200 metres on 27 April at Ellerslie. 

Having kept producing for strong win in the Rating 65 1200 metres on 11 April at Otaki, Avantaggia was balloted out of the Group 3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Te Rapa, impressively won by stable-mate Drop Of God (Hello Youmzain), but brought previous experience on the course and rated a top three chance - but needed a lot of luck from the outside gate (12). 

The blueblood filly and first foal out of Te Akau bought and trained nine-time Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Avantaggia had already recorded two smart wins from five starts, and also fought hard for fourth when debuting in September at Ellerslie, in the race won by subsequent NZB Kiwi (1500m) winner Well Written (Written Tycoon).

In a hot field, sporting plenty of pace, it appeared likely Avantaggia would have to settle back from the draw and jockey Craig Grylls had no hesitation in taking such measures.

After tracking three-wide in eighth and six lengths astern at the 600m, Avantaggia ascended on the leaders quickly once straightened for the run home, maintained the momentum to take control at the 300m, and cut a pretty picture when striding clear to win impressively by one and a half lengths.

There win conjured up visions of her mother, Avantage, a bull-like mare when charging home, who won four times at Ellerslie, including two Group Ones. 

“She let rip and she’s a good filly,” said an enthused Grylls, regarding the power of her finish. “She’s got a big motor and it’s exciting, so well done to all the connections.”

On Soft5 footing, Avantaggia ran 1200 metres in 1:11.3, last 600m in 33.8 (approx.), and paid $4.50 & $2.20 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“It was a really good win, today, she’s building up a nice record, winning three of her six starts, and I think the overnight trip away a couple of weeks ago, when she won at Otaki, has given her confidence,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson.

“While it’s a shame she missed out on getting a start in the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes, she’s nonetheless won a very good race today and I think she can come on again from the win and we can look forward to the four-year-old season with her, and like Avantage she could improve again as a five-year-old.

“I’m a great believer in travelling horses away to help them grow in confidence, and I think that what she took out of the Otaki trip could be seen in how well she stepped up against a much stronger field to win at Ellerslie.”

Owned by the Te Akau 2024 Avantage Filly Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Avantaggia was purchased by Ellis at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Coolmore Stud. 

By Champion Two-Year-Old Colt and leading Coolmore Stud stallion Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj), who passed prematurely last September aged 17, her dam Avantage was Champion Two-Year-Old in 2017/18 and the second of eight Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m) winners bought by Ellis and trained by Te Akau.

Avantage went on to win nine Group One races, the most for her sire, and she finished up winning 16 of 28 races and $2.1 million in prize money for owners in the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

She then set a world record $4.1 million when sold online through Gavelhouse.com to Coolmore Australia, where she was foaled.

Following the win by Avantaggia, Ellis said: “What a way to wrap up an incredible Anzac weekend of racing for the stable and I thought the win by Avantaggia, beating a strong field, showed that she’s got a bright future.

“It’s not easy for the progeny of a nine-time Group One winning mare (Avantage) to come out and shine – they’re big boots to fill – but Avantaggia is a really good filly in her own right and the owners that came in and supported us when we syndicated her can be very proud. 

“The team had seven wins over the weekend, with Stakes' and Group wins on Saturday at Te Rapa and Riccarton, and a Group One win in the Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200m) in Adelaide.

“It was a big thrill for me to win that race, because Robert Sangster was a man that I got know quite well and I had an enormous amount of respect for. I idolised him as a young bloke and it was an honour getting to know him. 

“His son Adam Sangster, who owns Sweetenham Stud in Victoria, is also a good friend and has been very helpful to us in Melbourne, and has introduced us to a lot of owners. 

“Karyn and I are thrilled with the team that we have at Matamata, Riccarton, and Cranbourne (Melbourne), and for them all to have black type successes on the same day is very special.

“Mark (Walker) is running the stable in Melbourne, Sam (Bergerson) and Reece (Trumper) are working so well together overseeing Matamata, and Hunter (Durrant) has a great team around him at Riccarton, so to win stakes' races in the North Island, the South Island, and another Group 1 in Australia, is just wonderful for all the owners and the team.

“The wins took us to 116 for the season in New Zealand, so Mark and Sam look on target for their seventh training premiership in a row for Te Akau, and really, it's results like this that encourage us to buy so many yearlings every year.  We also train for private owners, we are not simply a syndicator, so these are important results for all of our owners and generate a lot of interest in the shares that we still have available."

Avantaggia was strapped by Rhiannon Smith. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz