For the second consecutive week, a $151 chance has saluted in a stakes race.
Last week it was the Smart Missile filly I'll Have A Bit that stunned punters in the Group II Euclase Stakes at Morphettville and this Saturday it was the turn of the Stephen Lee-trained Anton En Avant to cane punters in the Group III Chairman's Handicap (2000m) at Doomben.
Looking more like an odd-on pop, Anton En Avant charged home under Matt McGillivray to defeat Lovani (Lonhro) by a half-length with a short-half-head to Rising Red (Redwood) in third and earn his first stakes win at the age of eight.
Lee moved from Ballina to the Gold Coast last year and believes this has rejuvenated the gelding.
"He's plain, he's small, he's exactly like me but he has a lot of heart, Lee said.
"I was fairly confident when Matt put a couple on him and I said you will earn your money on him.
Since I have been at the (Gold) coast this horse has improved out of sight trained on a bigger track.
"I'm just trying to get some miles in his legs for the Caloundra Cup because he will run 2600 metres.
"Doomben is probably not his track, but he has won a few here so we are over the moon."
Bred by Darley Stud, Anton En Avant advances his record to 12 wins, 7 seconds and 6 thirds from 53 starts with earnings of $408,058.
From the second of three crops left by the international stud success Dubawi (IRE), Anton En Avant was consigned by Darley to the 2010 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale where he was knocked down to Vin Cox Bloodstock for just $7,000.
He is the fifth foal of the unraced Desert Prince mare Critical Miss who was sold the same year as Anton En Avant. It required just $1,000 to take her home.
A sister-in-blood to dual Listed stakes-winner Lady Of The Desert and a granddaughter of the NZ Filly Of The Year, 4-time Group 1 winner Solveig, Critical Miss was pensioned in 2017. Her final foal is the 4yo Moshe gelding At Your Peril.
Anton En Avant becomes the 149th stakes-winner for Dubawi (IRE) (pictured) .
