Avantage makes it nine Group One wins with Te Rapa triumph

Breednet - Saturday April 17

Despite being delayed a week, the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) lived up to its billing as one of the races of the season, as plucky mare Avantage made it Group One win number nine with a thrilling victory.

Avantage wins the Gr.1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes. Photo: Trish Dunnell.

The Jamie Richards-trained five-year-old started a red-hot favourite in the contest that was raced at Te Rapa on Saturday after the Te Aroha meeting last week was abandoned after race three due to a slippery track.

Facing a small but quality line-up of mares on a tricky Slow8 surface, Avantage and jockey Danielle Johnson were at the peak of their powers as they dictated the tempo in the race by sitting outside pacemaker Familia throughout.

Asked for a serious effort shortly after entering the home straight, Avantage found a small margin on Travelling Light and Coventina Bay and held them both at bay in a desperate finish. The judge couldn’t split Travelling Light and Coventina Bay who dead-heated for second with second favourite Levante running on to take fourth.

With Richards at Randwick in Sydney to oversee stable runners Amarelinha, Probabeel and Entriviere, it was up to his father Paul to take the congratulations after the race.

“Tough isn’t she,” Richards said.

“She did a wee bit of work early but got a nice drag along outside the leader and was just too tough.

“Danielle went a bit wider on the home corner to find some better going, which left her a sitting duck.

“To her credit she just toughed it out.

Danielle Johnson returns on Avantage. Photo: Trish Dunnell.

“The only query was the rain affected track as she hasn’t won on soft going before, but physically and mentally she was first class.

“She is a very versatile mare that has just got better with age.”

Advertisement

Johnson paid tribute to the Fastnet Rock mare that she admitted had changed her life.

“Every time she heard the horses come around her, she just fought that little bit more,” she said.

“She didn’t win by much, but she still had plenty up her sleeve.

“She has been just a horse of a lifetime for me. I was lucky enough to get on her as a two-year-old and developed a relationship from then on.

“When Opie (Bosson) has been out of the country I have been able to get on her which has proved very lucky for me.”

Johnson has ridden Avantage 10 times for six wins, with four of those at Group One level.

Jamie Richards broke the national record for wins in a season as Avantage became victory number 144 for the Te Akau Racing stable in 2020/21, eclipsing the 143-win mark set by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman in 2017/18.

It was also the 35th stakes win in New Zealand this season for Richards, along with a further four in Australia. He has won 13 of the 21 Group One races on offer in a New Zealand season with Avantage accounting for five of that tally.

Bred by Southlanders Willie And Karen Calder, Avantage is raced by the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate and was purchased for $210,000 by Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM out of the Oaks Stud draft at the Premier Sale at Karaka in 2017.

She has now won 16 of her 27 starts and more than $2.2m in prizemoney. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Third Group I Victory for Fastnet Rock’s Avantage
A Champion 2YO that won the Karaka Million in 2018, quality Fastnet Rock mare Avantage claimed her third success at the elite level when capturing the Group I Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m) at Otaki in New Zealand on Saturday.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.