Avantage (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) became the 33rd Group 1 winner for her Coolmore shuttle sire, when lifting the NZ$225,000 G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce S. at Awapuni on Saturday. The win gave owners Te Akau Racing their second New Zealand juvenile Group 1 of the season, after Saturday's favourite, Sword Of Osman (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), captured the G1 Sistema Diamond S. at Ellerslie on Mar. 10.
Sent off as the $2.80 second choice in the markets, Avantage raced in a clear cut fifth one off the fence, as Sword of Osman was pushed by Bocce (Aus) (Foxwedge {Aus}) to his inside. Winding up with 600 metres remaining, Avantage switched five deep outside of fellow Te Akau runner Handsome Rebel (Aus) (Denman {Aus}), and came calling at the head of the straight. Sword Of Osman threw in the towel, but the tangerine and blue silks remained on top, as Avantage in the center of the course and Handsome Rebel up the inside were both letting down with purpose on the front end. Going best of all late, as the GSW Melt (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) rallied into second, Avantage cantered across the line to win by two lengths. Melt was three lengths in front of Sir Nate (NZ) (Nadeem {Aus}), who headed Handsome Rebel for third. Sword Of Osman faded to seventh.
“She's got some value now, bring on the [G1] 1000 Guineas in the spring,” co-trainer Jamie Richards told www.nzracing.co.nz. “She's a super filly and she was given a super ride. Her work since Ellerslie had been pleasing, she trained on beautifully.”
Added hoop Danielle Johnson, “She was very impressive, it's a huge thrill. From the wide gate I got a nice run with the pace on all the way. I had a lot of horse underneath me and it was just a case of when to push the button.”
Undefeated in her first four starts including the Listed Karaka Million over 1200 metres at Ellerslie on Jan. 27, the bay suffered her first defeat at the hooves of the aforementioned Sword Of Osman over that same course and distance in the Sistema on Mar. 10, making up ground from last, but missing by 1 1/4 lengths.
Pedigree Notes…
Foaled at Coolmore Australia, Avantage cost NZ$210,000 out of the NZB Karaka Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of the Oaks Stud on the bid of Te Akau's David Ellis. In addition to being the 33rd top-flight scorer and fifth 2-year-old Group 1 winner for Fastnet Rock, Avantage is also the second Group 1-winning filly in the Southern Hemisphere for her sire, following G1 Blue Diamond S. heroine Catchy (Aus). Worldwide, the son of Danehill has also sired G1 Moyglare Stud S. victress Intricately (Ire). Out of the SW and G1 Darci Brahma International S. third Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ), Avantage is the second winner from two runners for her dam, who has a yearling filly by So You Think (NZ) to follow. A half-sister to G1 Centenary Sprint Cup victor D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), her weanling filly by Vancouver (Aus) unfortunately died. Group 3 winner Pins 'n' Needles (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) is Avantage's second dam, who is a full-sister to fellow Group 3 winner Miss Alice (NZ), while a half-sister, Zenda (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), produced GSW & G1 Kingston Town Classic third King Saul (Aus) (Flying Pegasus {Aus}).Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Saturday, Awapuni, New Zealand
MANAWATU SIRES' PRODUCE S.-G1, NZ$225,000 (US$162,958/£116,326/€132,217), Manawatu RC, 3-31, 2yo, Open Set Weight, 1400mT, 1:23.43, Dead.
1–AVANTAGE (AUS) , 54.5, f, 2, by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
1st Dam: Asavant (SW & G1SP-NZ), by Zabeel
2nd Dam: Pins 'n' Needles, by Pins (Aus)
3rd Dam: Raining, by Centaine (Aus)
1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (NZ$210,000 Ylg 2017
NZB National Yearling Sale). O-Te Akau Avantage Syndicate
(Mgr: Kw Fenton-Ellis Mnzm); B-Mr W Calder (NSW); T-S
Autridge & J Richards; J-D S Johnson; NZ$131,250. Lifetime
Record: 6-5-1-0, NZ$742,370. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple
Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Melt, 54.5, f, 2, Iffraaj (GB)–Ticklish, by Maroof (USA).
O-Andrew Fowler; B-C J Cochrane & W A Fowler (NZ); T-N W
Tiley; JL G Innes; NZ$42,000.
3–Sir Nate, 56.5, c, 2, Nadeem (Aus)–Just Diamonds, by No
Excuse Needed (GB). (NZ$65,000 Ylg 2017 NZB National
Yearling Sale). OKamada Bloodstock, J C McNeill, S Dais, M
Schirnack, L Purvis, P Shearer, S Platt, D Wyborn, K Donoghue,
M Dudley & T Ryan; BBrown Thoroughbreds Ltd & Fusion
Thoroughbreds Ltd (NZ); T-Ms L Latta; J-J Parkes; NZ$21,000.
Margins: 2, 3, HD. Odds: 2.80, 4.70, 6.60.
Also Ran: Handsome Rebel (Aus), King Louis, Thomas Aquinas, Sword of Osman, Platinum Mam'selle (Aus), Bocce (Aus), What a Smasher, Top Ofthe Straight, Valalie (Aus).
Click for the Racing Post chart. NZ Racing Video.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
