Te Akau Two-Year-Olds Strike Again.

Just over a month ago, the powerful stable saddled five horses in the Karaka Million (1200m) field and finished first and second with Avantage (Fastnet Rock) and Al Hasa (NZ) (Exceed and Excel).

The unbeaten Avantage returned to Ellerslie on Saturday and put her unbeaten career record on the line in the $200,000 Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m). This time she had to settle for second behind her rising star stablemate Sword of Osman (NZ) (Savabeel).

Ridden by Opie Bosson, Sword of Osman went straight to the lead and never looked back. He kicked powerfully in the straight, propelling himself out of reach of the fast-finishing Avantage and third-placed Spanish Whisper (Lope de Vega).

“The whole race he relaxed beautifully in front,” Bosson said. “He changed legs a few times, but he just kept running. He’s very, very good. He’s amazing. He’s like a three-year-old now. I can’t wait for his three-year-old career.”

It was the third win from four starts for Sword of Osman, who previously produced explosive front-running performances to win by three lengths at Awapuni and by five and three-quarter lengths in last month’s Group 3 Reid & Harrison Slipper (1200m) at Awapuni.

Bred by Joan Egan, Sword of Osman was bought by David Ellis for $165,000 from the draft of Trelawney Stud at the 2017 Premier Sale. He has now earned $191,250 in prize-money for owners the Te Akau Great Sword Syndicate.