The well-known tangerine and blue colours were carried to victory by two
year-old filly Avantage and three year-old colt Age of Fire.Trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, Avantage cruised home to score by a couple of lengths on debut over 800 metres.
Age of Fire was second on debut last month and then broke the ice with a head win in the Inglewood Stud Guineas Trial over 1400 metres.
"We have a big opinion of Avantage as she has been very good in everything she has done so far. She will definitely take improvement from the run but she's on target for her main assignment which is the Listed two-year-old race during the New Zealand Cup Carnival," said Steven Autridge.
"I was also pleased with Age of Fire as he was ridden a little upside down due to the size of the field in the Guineas Trial.
"I think he's better when settled back a little more and hopefully he can show that next time up."
Age Of Fire holds a nomination for the Gr. 1 Al Basti Equiworld 2000 Guineas at
Riccarton on 11 November while Avantage will contest the Listed Barneswood Farm
Welcome Stakes a week later, on the last day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival. Avantage was a $210,000 NZB Premier purchase for Te Akau from The Oaks Stud draft, while Age of Fire was bought from the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $400,000 from the Erinvale Thoroughbreds draft.
Avantage is the first winner for stakes-winning Zabeel mare Asavant and Age of Fire is bred on the magic Fastnet Rock Galileo cross being from Dragon's Tail, an unraced daughter of the world champion sire.
