Unreserved Avantage Live on Gavelhouse Tonight

The unreserved auction for Te Akau Racing’s nine-time Group One winning Fastnet Rock mare Avantage is now live on Gavelhouse Plus, with bidding closing from 7pm (NZ) on Wednesday 22 September.

Avantage first raced in October as a two-year-old, winning her first four starts, the fourth being the RL Karaka Million (1200m). She had a total of six races at a juvenile, winning five of them and being an unlucky second on the other occasion.

To be crowned Champion Two-Year-Old, she rounded off her juvenile season as runner up in the Gr.1 ARC Diamond Stakes from a wide draw before winning the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Testament to her fortitude, the Jamie Richards-trained mare has been at the top of her game across four seasons, capturing another eight Group One victories while amassing A$2,001,714 for the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM).

Strong Australian interest is expected, and with that in mind, space for Avantage has been reserved on New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight’s next flights to Sydney and Melbourne this coming Sunday and Wednesday week respectively.

 “Avantage’s versatility was remarkable.  She won Group One races at 1200m, 1400m, 1600m and 2000m.  This indeed a rare accomplishment,” said Te Akau Principal and her purchaser David Ellis CNZM. 

“In fact Avantage has won more Group One races than any other horse by Fastnet Rock, anywhere in the world - more than Group One stars Atlantic Jewel, Mosheen and Sea Siren,” Ellis said.

Gearing up for the auction gavelhouse.com General Manager Haylie Martin recognises the significance of the opportunity “The team at Te Akau is one of the linchpins in our industry and we are all fortunate to have Te Akau’s commitment to the domestic scene.  This is made even more evident by Te Akau choosing to sell Avantage via a Kiwi-owned company,” she said.

“Herself a Karaka yearling hand-picked by David Ellis, I know the team at NZB has taken great pleasure in following her career and it’s fitting she comes full circle to be sold via gavelhouse.com.”

“We cannot thank David, Karyn, Jamie and the connections enough for putting their faith in us and of offering her to the market in such a genuine manner as unreserved.  It’s going to be an exciting few days.”

New buyers to Gavelhouse Plus must register well in advance to gain bidding approval. Contact Haylie Martin with any bidding questions – haylie@gavelhouse.com or +64 22 6378127

For a full wrap of her career, read Te Akau Racing’s press release.

Key credentials

• Bought by David Ellis CNZM at Karaka in 2017 for $210,000, Avantage was bred by Karen and Willie Calder and sold via The Oaks Stud’s draft.
• Winner of 16 races ranging from 800m to 2000m, nine at Group One level.
• A Group winner in Australia.
• Champion 2YO of her generation.
• Karaka 2YO Million winner.
• Winner of over A$2 million in stakes.
• First three dams are stakes’ performers with their dam sires including the outstanding Zabeel, Pins and Centaine.
• Avantage is the best performer for Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, who as a broodmare sire lays claim to Group One winners Santa Ana Lane, Gytrash and Tivaci.