Another Group 1 For Winning Formula

Te Akau Racing’s remarkable run of success with two-year-olds sourced from the Karaka sales complex continued in Saturday’s $225,000 Group 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Awapuni.

The Karaka Million (1200m), the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and the Sires’ Produce Stakes are New Zealand’s three showpiece two-year-old races, and the tangerine team have won all three races this season with Karaka graduates.

Avantage (Fastnet Rock) beat stablemate Al Hasa (NZ) (Exceed and Excel) in the Karaka Million, then Sword of Osman (NZ) (Savabeel) edged out Avantage in the Sistema Stakes.

On Saturday it was Avantage again. She cruised along behind the leading pair before taking command at the top of the straight. Melt (NZ) (Iffraaj) made up some late ground, but Avantage was a class above and scored by two lengths for rider Danielle Johnson.

“She’s got some value now, bring on the 1000 Guineas in the spring,” said Jamie Richards, who trains in partnership with Stephen Autridge. “She’s a lovely filly and a pleasure to have around the stable.”

Bred by Willie and Karen Calder, Avantage was bought for $210,000 at the 2017 Premier Sale by Te Akau principal David Ellis.

The filly has now had six starts for five wins and a second, earning $762,370 in prize-money for owners the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate.

Avantage and Sword of Osman’s heroics this season follow on from the champion two-year-old of 2016-17, Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), who was bought by Ellis for $57,500 at the 2016 Premier Sale and won the Karaka Million, Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes and Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).