Third Group I Victory for Fastnet Rock’s Avantage

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 22

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.

Avantage wins her third Group I race - Race Images Sporting the familiar tangerine and blue colours of Te Akau Racing, Avantage and her Jamie Richards trained stablemate Prise de Fer dominated both the betting on the race and the concluding stages of the contest as they set down for a fierce two-way battle that was eventually decided in favour of the mare.

Under a cool ride from Danielle Johnson, last month’s Group I Telegraph (1200m) winner Avantage travelled sweetly before sneaking up along the inner with 500m to run.

While a number of the day’s winners had come wide in the home straight Avantage gained a critical length on her stablemate early in the run home through Johnson’s decision and that proved a winning move as she stuck to her guns in the final stages to hold out Prise De Fer by threequarters of a length at the line.

Johnson, who had been aboard Avantage when she took out the Group I Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) as a two-year-old, admitted a conversation with Richards before the race had helped her to make the decision to follow an inside path.

“It’s pretty exciting as it’s my second Group One on her,” Johnson said.

“She’s pretty quirky but the team do a good job with her and she has delivered the goods today.

“I had a chat to Jamie and watching some of the previous races they haven’t been coming too wide so we opted to stay in a little and it’s paid off.

“I was mindful not to go too soon on her as it was a mile today so I had to count to ten which jockeys aren’t too good at.

“I did have a few thoughts go through my head when I saw the tangerine (Prise De Fer) outside me and they weren’t too pleasant, but we still won.”



David Ellis of Te Akau Racing bought Avantage for $210,000 out of the Oaks Stud Premier draft at the 2017 Karaka Yearling Sale and she has the super impressive record of nine wins and four placings from 16 starts with earnings in excess of $1.2 million.

Avantage is the second winner for stakes-winning Zabeel mare Asavant, a daughter of Group III winner Pins ‘n’ Needles and half-sister to Hong Kong based Group I winning sprinter DB Pin.

Asavant is now in the ownership of Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock and has a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock and after missing in 2018 to Merchant Navy was covered again by Fastnet Rock last year.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - Haunui Farm Gr1 1600m

Otaki Track: Dead(6) Time: 1:35.02
1
Avantage
- 4m Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: D S Johnson 57
Fastnet Rock
Inglis May (Early) Online Sale $5,500
Seller: Go Bloodstock (as agent)
Buyer: B Dowdle
2
0.8
Prise De Fer
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Foiled (AUS) (Snippets (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: J Parkes 59
3
2.8
The Chosen One
- 4h Savabeel (AUS) x The Glitzy One (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: J K Riddell 59
4
3.8
Shadows Cast
- 7g Per Incanto (USA) x Ages Past (NZ) (Slavic (USA))
Tnr: M K Oulaghan Rdr: L J Allpress 59
5
7.6
Germanicus
- 4g Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x St Germaine (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: Ms D Guy Rdr: R J Myers 59
6
9.6
Glory Days
- 7m Red Giant (USA) x Bilancia (NZ) (Montjeu (IRE))
Tnr: W J Thurlow Rdr: D L Turner 57
7
10.1
Rondinella
- 5m Ocean Park (NZ) x Valpolicella (NZ) (Red Ransom (USA))
Tnr: R James & R Wellwood Rdr: V A Colgan 57
8
11.1
The Mitigator
- 5g Master Of Design (AUS) x Charming Ruby (AUS) (Rubiton (AUS))
Tnr: P N McKay Rdr: S M Mc Kay 59
9
13.9
Irish Flame
- 5g Zed (NZ) x Fleur De L'orient (NZ) (Thunder Gulch (USA))
Tnr: J R Wheeler Rdr: C W Johnson 59
10
14.4
Killarney
- 7g O'Reilly (NZ) x Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: J & K Parsons Rdr: A Comignaghi 59
More Reading...
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.
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.
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.
Another G1 Triumph for Aga Khan Stud Bred Gelding
Aga Khan Studs don’t race a lot of geldings, but one that they do is Calandagan, who made it back to back G1 wins overnight when beating a select field in a tactical battle to win the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1m4f) at Ascot.
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.
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.
Two New SW's for Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot is set to be crowned Champion Australian Second Season Sire and is headed back to Darley Australia this spring at a fee of $275,000 and overnight he produced two new stakes-winners in the UK and Ireland.
One to Watch - Belmont
Racing made a welcome return to Belmont Park yesterday and the first winner to salute on the freshly renovated track was a two year-old that started a red hot favourite and could not have been more impressive!
Avantage makes it nine Group One wins with Te Rapa triumph
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.
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.