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

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
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...
Sires With Winners - Sunday July 6
Here is the full list of 68 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Aussie Interest at JRHA Sale Next Week – First foal of Golden Slipper Winner
The 2025 JRHA  Select Foal and Yearling Sale will be held next week in Japan on July 14 and 15 and as usual there are some interesting entries for Aussie racing fans with a significant number of our star mares at stud in Japan including the 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 7
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
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.
Public Attention Sold to Hong Kong
New Zealand-bred three-year-old Public Attention will continue his racing career in Hong Kong following his recent sale.
Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight
Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.
Stakes Success for Spritely 7YO Warhorse
Pearce Racing's seven year old warhorse Ginger Baker collected his first ever stakes win in the Listed 2200m South West Cup yesterday.
Te Akau Stars Headed to Cranbourne
Te Akau’s Cranbourne barn has welcomed some exciting reinforcements ahead of spring racing, headlined by $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) heroine Damask Rose.
Debut Winner for St Mark’s Basilica
Set to shuttle to Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (FR) had an impressive debut winner overnight in the UK with Cape Ashizuri opening his account in style.
Begg Bred Siblings Make for a Winning Double
Former Group I jockey and now emerging country trainer Danny Beasley produced his first winning double at Wagga on Monday and he did it with a pair of first time winning siblings that are both bred and raced by the legendary Neville Begg.